Hugh Evans speaks at Australian HC’s Residence

CEO and Founder of Global Poverty Project, Hugh Evans, has long been an admired leader in poverty eradication, especially in eliminating the vicious circle of poverty in places of supreme vulnerability in the Sub-Saharan African continent.

The-founder of the Oakwood Foundation began in youth and social entrepreneurship in his early teens and was instantly awestruck by the extreme nature of poverty in Manila. “How do I see myself living in suburban Melbourne compared with the extreme poverty in Manila? The roles could have easily been reversed,” he said.

By the age of 15, he packed his bags, traded the comfort of living in Australia with India after convincing his parents that he wanted to make a change.

Hugh Evans has been greatly influential in spurring thousands of youths in Australia and potentially millions around the world to join the cause and even got the likes of Bono on stage for Australia’s historic Making Poverty History Concert in 2006. He was awarded the Young Australian of the Year in 2004 and Junior Chambers Young Person of the World in 2005.

That concert and his journey had ultimately sparked national interest to recognize that youth movement could help eradicate and alleviate extreme poverty.

Peer education has also helped resolve difficulties among the younger generation in South Africa highlighting the impact of the Global Poverty Project, which Hugh Evans also co-founded. Some people lives’ have changed for the better but one must change their own selves before changing the lives of others.

He has also attracted the likes of Hugh Jackman to be the Global Advisor and an advocate of the Live Below the Line campaign, which challenges people to spend $1.50 for five days to better understand the challenges of extreme poverty.

“Polio is a crippling disease in poverty-stricken nations and it perpetuates a vicious cycle,” he said. Polio, he continued, can cause lifestyle burdens.

Hugh Evans delivered a lecture entitled “Youth and Social Entrepreneurship: An Australian Experience” at the residence of Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, Mark Sawers.

Among those in attendance were the Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Datin Paduka Hjh Adina binti Hj Othman, senior officials, youth leaders, diplomats, NGO representatives as well as youths and business representatives.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin. All pictures courtesy of SnrPablo.