“You must be the change you want to see in the world”: Leaders and Values they have adopted

During the regular lesson of the Anti-Corruption School for Young Leaders, participants discussed the value-added system that is needed to achieve the goal.

Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Association of Lawyers was the lecturer at this session.

The participants remembered the individuals who, through their values they had adopted, were able to resist, fight and achieve the result.

For example, India’s political and spiritual leader, Mahatma Gandhi, developed a means for the struggle that was based on bravery, justice, and non-violent values. It was called Satyagraha  (“insistence” or “holding firmly to” or holding onto truth or truth force).

“You must be the change you want to see in the world,” Gandhi said.

Martin Luther King, one of the most prominent representatives of civil movement, cited the following values: non-racism, freedom, justice, equality.

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character,”  said Luther King during the 1963 Washington march, during which he made his famous “I have a dream” speech.

According to Karen Zadoyan, it is important for the fight against corruption to create and publicize successful stories on the fight against corruption.

“For example, in Singapore, National Development Minister Tao Chan was accused of giving bribes, and the Prime Minister’s close friend did not relieve him of his responsibility. The latter was arrested, and the request for meeting with the prime minister was denied, after which he committed suicide. His wife and daughter left Singapore. People are intolerant to corruption in Singapore. Corruption in their perception is similar to pedophilia, unacceptable, and therefore, the level of corruption in the country is low. There must be intolerant attitude against corruption,” Karen Zadoyan said.

At the end of the lesson, the participants were divided into groups and carried out a practical task. Each group separated 3 values ​​needed for effective fight against corruption.

Then, the 9 values ​​presented by the groups were summarized in the 3 mentioned below:

  • Perseverance,
  • Integrity, 
  • Legal Equality.

“The Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO is organizing the Anti-Corruption School for Young Leaders in cooperation with the Armenian CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition.

Iravaban.net independent information website is the information partner of the Anti-Corruption School for Young Leaders.