The one thing that Growing Up Africa had been missing was a symbol to represent our mission and all that we stand for. We therefore applied for the registration of a trade mark which has now been registered [ Eversheds represented GUA pro bono ]. The trade mark reflects the essence of what Growing Up Africa is all about and our vision for the future. Something that is simple, yet meaningful enough to leave a mark on anyone that encounters it.
All too often, in a world that can only be described as out of balance, as human beings we look around us and see infinite problems. We talk about them, complain about them and then we dismiss them. In our fast-paced modern lives, we do not have time to pause for a moment and think to ourselves "what can I do to make a difference"? "In what ways can I contribute to finding a solution?"
A contribution need not necessarily be financial, because you can throw all the money in the world at a problem - if people do not come together to put the money to good use and implement the change that is needed, then the money remains merely ink on paper. And so it was that we came up with the phrase "Be the Change". Instead of leaving the problem to remain someone else's problem, ask yourself, in what ways can I meaningfully contribute to finding a solution? In what ways can I be the change that I wish to see in the world? Perhaps your contribution could be money. Perhaps it could be time. Or perhaps it may simply be knowledge. But your contribution, no matter how small, has the ability to eventually impact positively on the life of another human being.
The words "Be the Change" are encased in a circle. The reason for this is because a circle commonly represents unity, wholeness, and infinity. It represents the infinite nature of energy, and the inclusive nature of the universe.
The "I am" because "we are." The meaning behind this is twofold. Firstly, that although the impact that your contribution makes may be minuscule, the impact that all of our minuscule contributions can make together is huge. Secondly, if you change one person's life for the better, it will impact on that person's family, which in turn can impact on an entire community and bring about an enormous amount of positive change.
BUT the change needs to start somewhere. Our hope is that the impact that our logo has will be felt in every nook and cranny of society and that whenever you see it, it will have the effect of making you stop and pause for a moment to realise - that it starts with you!
And then to ask yourself the question - how can I be the change that I want to see in this world?
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