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I had a dream when I was 7 yrs old to change the world to a better place. My dream grew stronger for every day. Today I live my dream every day with Awoque – social media for social good – and inspire others to chase theirs. A great job, do not you think? Last week, I hade the privilege to give a lecture on Storytelling at Xelera, I told them my story, my why, that inspired my whole life, my carrier, the company I own.

photo by Henrik Johansson - Victoria Ahlén lecturing on Storytelling

Thanks to Henrik Ladström for the recording.
Part 1 on Bambuser:

photo by Henrik Johansson - Henrik Ladström recording

Part 2 on Bambuser :

Xeleras blog post (in Swedish) from the Storytelling lecture >>

I ran into Anni Lyngskaer founder of This is my Story during one of many sessions at South by Southwest a few weeks ago. Look at her project as a great example of positive social change for the world. The project engages women in a participatory video workshop teaching the participants to express themselves and engage in their community. I asked her to tell me more and here are her answers:

The next one is Anni and Mariatu and editing her film

Why do you do what you do?
Well, this is always such a hard question. But I guess I’m working within the nonprofit industry because I believe that all humans are equal and have the same rights. Unfortunately, the world today is so unjust, but I believe it is possible to create chance. It makes me happy when I’m working with This is my Story because I can see it works. I can see that the participants learn and actually gain self-esteem. One of the female participants in Sierra Leone said “I’ve learnt that a woman is also valuable in a community.” – and that quote really says it all, that is why I’m doing what I do.

This is Fanta, one of the participants. They all have so many stories to share, and I feel so happy and blessed that they are willing to share them with me and the rest of the world

What is the key to your success?
I get a lot of ideas, some of them are kind of crazy, but I’m not afraid to fulfill them and follow my dreams. And then I’m curious and always trying to learn new things and skills.

You can aid them by voting for their video “I got rhytm” here>>

Any ideas on where their workshop might be needed, get in touch!

“Only you can change government”,says  Jennifer Pahlka from Code for America. Her non-profit uses the power of web-tools to assist in projects in cities across America. The good outcome of the projects benefits the citizens. She shows us what is possible if you dare to dream. “Code can be beautiful, simple and easy to use”, says Pahlka.
For example check out the project adopt a hydrant. The citizens of Boston where asked to take care of the hydrant closeby their house and make sure it was free from snow. They reported through and easy app. Other cities followed thanks to the open source code and sharing of information. As members of a community, we can fix things, not just complain.

Kenny Genborg, reporter at Göteborgs Posten writes an article today about the key to the future (Nyckeln till stans framgång)>>

Stop the complaining about housing, no work. Let us be inspired by this great example and come up with solutions that enable people to act!

I came into Austin without appointments and booked sessions. Back in October, I had this strong notion that I had to go. 14 years ago, I lived in Abilene a few hours north of Austin so revisiting would mean many meetings with people I love and places I knew from my youth.

Still, when walking into the Austin Convention Center to pick up  my badge for the (South by Southwest) SXSW Interactive late Thursday evening, my legs shook and at the same time I wanted to scream of joy. I challenged myself to get here. I wanted to face the knowledge in my industry and by the unknown. I desperately needed to recharge batteries. I came because the time had come to chase new dreams and to find new horizons.

A week since SXSW Interactive conference ended and I am still digesting.

What a wonderful beautiful world of possibilities I took part in.
What a creative melting pot of creativity and welcoming spirits.
What a mix of great people off all ages, nations, gender and backgrounds getting together to share ideas for social change, for new horizons in business and simply connecting with each other in easy conversations.

You can join the SXSW spirit. Together we can make this world a better place. Tell and communicate your stories offline and in social media. Dream the dream. Be proud of who you are. Go get it. You just connected with the future.

Be inspired as I was by this Keynote by Baratunde Thurston – How to read the word

Åland’s Social Media Guru Mats Adamczak writes about SXSW here (in Swedish)

A blog post in Moosylvania.com -What Austin Taught Us: Key Takeaways from SXSW

The Chamber of Commerce in Göteborg writes on their blog (in Swedish)

Baratunde Thurston SXSW 2012

Downtown Austin by Mats Adamczak

Tonight, I am almost speechless. What a day?! “High Five” from from the breakfast meeting with intelligent people from Swerea to reading the last e-mail I got around 4 pm from a new client. It started with High Five ! Say no more. I need to sit down. Enjoy this YouTube video with me about defining innovation and taking your dream a bit further. What is your passion?

I bought tickets to Fredrik Toreskog’s concert in Göteborg on  February 8 on my birthday. (I dared all my friends to give to charity on their b-days.) I heard of the him and his dream on Twitter. He is an ordinary hard working dad with a dream -to write 5 songs about his family, record them and play them live on TV before January 10. All those goals he achieved and before Christmas he decided to book and sell 1274 seats to the Göteborg Concert Hall. All  proceeds will be donated to charity, Drottning Silvias Barnsjukhus (children’s hospital). When someone asked him how he planned to market the concert he simply replied, “I will mention it on Twitter.”

Today, a week before he enters the stage, more than 800 seats are sold. I admire his courage and his passion to fulfill a dream. He writes in his blog today that he is nervous. Of course he is. I would be too. But I would also be happy and proud of myself for standing up for my beliefs and inspiring others to follow. The same kind of courage is broadcast live every minute in Egypt.

Next Tuesday, we will enjoy moments of joy and witness the starting point of a man’s big adventure. I hardly believe this is the last time we will hear of Fredrik Toreskog.