With rich and diverse debates, the annual conference Redes que Transformam began on Thursday, the 3rd, and went on until Saturday, the 5th. Fully conducted online due to social distancing and the Coronavirus pandemic, the meeting brought together for the first time members of the Education and Leadership networks at the Lemann Foundation, as well as experts and public officials to discuss public challenges in Brazil and possible solutions to generate lasting, positive and profound impacts for the future of the country.
Denis Mizne, our CEO, kicked-off Redes que Transformam, highlighting themes that would then be discussed in the panels, such as quality public education, leadership in different sectors of society, and public health in the context of the pandemic.
World Bank’s Director Paloma Anós Casero discussed the waste of human potential in Brazil. Read in on more about this panel:
"We estimate that #Brazilian children born in 2019 will only reach 55% of their productive potential — so much talent wasted. That is why spreading the message of investing in child education is important", says @WorldBank's Paloma Anós Casero. #RedesQueTransformam #RQT2020 pic.twitter.com/7WOZUC4Nfv
— The Lemann Foundation (@LemannFdn) December 3, 2020
On the 2nd day, leaders and experts shared experiences in facing the pandemic and its impacts. We all know the Covid-19 brought enormous challenges to the world and further exposed the inequality that exists. However, it also showed us the need for innovative initiatives and accelerated the implementation of others already under development.
Also, our director Lara Alcadipani moderated a very enlightening conversation on the development of the COVID19 vaccine at the University of Oxford, which has its tests in Brazil funded by The Lemann Foundation in partnership with Unifesp and with the approval of Anvisa.
Andrew Pollard (University of Oxford’s researcher), Sue Ann (Institute for Global Health’s researcher), and Denis Mizne (Lemann Foundation’s CEO) presented information on vaccine research and support for science as you can see below:
From the first #COVID19 outbreak in China, we were able to start producing the vaccine in January because we were already researching another #coronavirus. In April, we started human trials.", says @UniofOxford's Andrew Pollard. #RedesQueTransformam #RQT2020 pic.twitter.com/ckfnx73lZF
— The Lemann Foundation (@LemannFdn) December 4, 2020
On the 3rd and last day of Redes que Transformam, newly re-elected mayor of Caruaru (PE) Raquel Lyra talked with the mayor of Freetown (the capital city of Sierra Leone) Yvonne Aki-Sawyer about the similar challenges of public managers across different continents. See some quotes from this inspiring and frank conversation:
When you engage people, and you want to serve and lead them, you need to give your heart away to these people. And that is what I did to make a change in Freetown when I became mayor.", says Sierra Leone's capital mayor @yakisawyerr. pic.twitter.com/zwAAfx9tTz
— The Lemann Foundation (@LemannFdn) December 5, 2020
To wrap up, Professor Thiago Amparo, Avon Institute’s manager Mafoane Odara, and councilman Abidan Henrique talked about leadership and black representation. Check below some excerpts of this much needed chat:
"The black community is not a niche in #Brazil. We are 56% of the population, and in 10 years we will be 70%. We must change how society looks to black people", says @institutoavon's Manager Mafoane Odara on the importance of #awereness and #representation. #RedesqueTransformam. pic.twitter.com/T5CFzmAWYU
— The Lemann Foundation (@LemannFdn) December 5, 2020
Throughout Redes que Transformam, we gathered many people who are doing their best to transform Brazil — whether in education, people management, technology, health or public service.
Three days of inspiring and purposeful conversations on the great challenges of Brazil and the world and how to find solutions to these issues, focusing on the greatest, most creative and dynamic resource there is, our people. This was our annual Redes que Transformam event. We see you again next year!