IFC 2019 Closing Plenary: Srishti Bakshi, Elvis Eze and Joanna Sustento

IFC has a way of firing you up… no doubt about it. If we’ve made you rethink e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g, we call that a win.

Our closing keynote session no doubt will have you on your feet and the edge of your seat, because it brings together three young people who clearly put the “act” in activism. And that’s important because without it, it’s just “ivism” and, well, that really doesn’t mean anything, does it?

Join us as we close out the conference hearing from Srishti Bakshi, who left her marketing career to embark on a 2,300-mile walk across India to educate people in local communities on gender-based violence and inequality; Elvis Eze, an outspoken emergency medicine physician dedicated to ending the terrible plague of malaria; and Joanna Sustento, who after losing her family in Super Typhoon Haiyan became the human face of the climate crisis and travelled the world to highlight the devastating impact of climate change.

Joanna, Elvis and Srishti speak beautifully to our 2019 theme, “Time for Action.” Like our opening keynote speaker, they embody the spirit that moves one person to touch the lives of many. Their stories will challenge you to shake loose any stagnancy, dig deep into what motivates you to do the work you do, and power up your efforts on behalf of the causes you so diligently champion.

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How do you get from one of the darkest places imaginable to a place of empowerment, even joy?

Listen to this closing plenary from Esther Dingemans and you will begin to understand how such an extraordinary journey can be possible.

Social causes tackle many issues, some of them as bleak as any of us can imagine. One such issue is the increasing use of rape as a weapon of war – sexual abuse used systematically in conflict to subjugate and terrify women.

Esther is the director of The Dr Denis Mukwege Foundation, named after the renowned Congolese activist, which exists to eradicate sexual violence around the world and provide support that includes medical care, psychological support, legal aid and socioeconomic programmes. Her career includes work with Save the Children, UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund and the International Rescue Committee.

Although her work involves combatting some of humankind’s most horrific atrocities, Esther will speak to you of joy. Of healing. Of positive outcomes, and of empowerment and hope.

In her closing plenary, she will show you how stories of transformation can arise from the most terrible circumstances. Her story will leave you more keenly aware than ever of how you and the work that you do can create positive change.