Digital BABA

By Vanthana Nolintha, BBusCom, MEcon

Researcher, National Economic Research Institute (NERI)

Vientiane, Lao PDR.

When I was first recommended by one of my senior friends to apply for the participation in the BABA retreat program, I was not sure what I will gain from and how I will get engaged with this one week get-away. I was somehow convinced that this program was designed to help building the leadership skills and I therefore applied for this program. After being one of BABA families, I realize that the decision to join this wonderful program has been one of my best decisions I have made in my life. I will next try to put some of my key thoughts about this program in the remaining of this page.

BABA 6 helps connect me with many other young leaders who share the same passion of the betterment of Asia. One of the most interesting features of this program is the opportunity to meet with many different individuals from all walks of life. Each participant, in my opinion, is the true leader in the respective field who has contributed in his or her own way to make Asia and the world a better place. This network will allow a more productive relationship and cooperation on various aspects in the future.

BABA 6 makes me realize that even one person can make a positive change to this world. Throughout the retreat, I was given opportunity to meet, listen to and interact with various resource persons from different fields. Most of them are successful leaders of the world who, in many cases, start making a difference from themselves and later involve others to join with them to create positive changes.

BABA 6 re-confirms my belief that people can be different but we can live and share with each other. Many participants are very much different in terms of cultural, academic, professional, political and religious background. We however manage to break the ice, big thanks to FANTASTIC 4 and our facilitators, and establish a very strong bond which has proved to last even after the retreat. I believe if others in the wider community share this belief, we will not see many of the terrible problems in many parts of the world where people hate each other just because they are different.

Finally, I’d like to use this opportunity to thank everyone who makes this wonderful program possible and let me be part of BABA families. For my BABA 6 families, I thank every one of you from my heart for making my BABA 6 experience a fruitful and joyful one. By meeting and connecting with you, I discover another part in me that want to do something “out of the box” for the betterment of myself, my family, my society and the world at large. I believe we all will meet in many more occasions in the years to come. Let the end of the retreat mark the beginning of our life long relationship and join our hands for the betterment of Asia and the world.