Changing the World: The Journey of Bill and Melinda Gates
Summary
In this article, we explore the journey of Bill and Melinda Gates in their quest to change the world. We discuss their process of deciding what to focus on and their experiences traveling to different parts of the world. We also delve into their efforts to connect with people in these communities and their willingness to work in places with high rates of HIV/AIDS infection.
Table of Contents
- Focusing on Making a Difference
- Connecting with People in Communities
- Working in Places with High Rates of HIV/AIDS Infection
- Helping People Live Their Lives
Focusing on Making a Difference
When Bill Gates left the White House, he decided to focus on things that he had cared about when he was there, where he could still make a difference. One of these things was their health access initiative, which has been able to drive down the price of AIDS and malaria drugs, largely thanks to funding from the Gates Foundation. Bill and Melinda Gates always knew they would have the responsibility and enjoyment of giving resources away. They explored different ways to make a difference, traveling throughout the world. When they saw the poorest communities and what they take for granted in terms of children’s survival and health, that became the focus of their efforts.
Connecting with People in Communities
Bill and Melinda Gates go to a lot of places where people have no television, so they are not always recognized. They connect with people by asking questions. When they traveled together, Melinda asked better questions than Bill and was able to ask very directly about the experience of using a microbicide, a thing a woman can use to protect herself from getting HIV. She asked both the male and female partners, which was important feedback.
Working in Places with High Rates of HIV/AIDS Infection
One of the things that Bill and Melinda Gates did that was particularly impressive was their willingness to work in Lesotho, which had the third or fourth highest AIDS infection rate in the world at the time. Lesotho had the only government at the time that was willing to test everybody 12 years old or older unless they opted out. Bill and Melinda Gates found people who were HIV positive and willing to go up into the villages. A third of the people lived in the mountains so high that you could only get there on pack animals or foot. All they knew was that Bill and Melinda Gates were showing up and trying to help them.
Helping People Live Their Lives
Bill and Melinda Gates’ efforts have helped people live their lives. They have helped individuals like the woman in Malawi who was farming an acre with a hoe and learned new planting techniques. Bill Gates worked alongside her and explained how he learned to do it when he was six years old and lived on a little farm. Helping people live their lives is more important than who they used to be.
