Our Mission
♪ You must be the change you wish to see in the world… ♪ Being the change we want to see in the world: transforming society to be founded on dignity, from the education system to the workplaces"
From a single classroom in 2006 to
Over 1 million young people in more than 80 countries each year
We invite you to learn more about our founding, leadership and impact around the world.
Dignity Principles
Our work is guided by a simple set of principles, that every person:
Has the right to pursue their purpose and meaning in life, and to reach their full potential.
Deserves to live in societies that provide humane access to education, health, income and security.
Should have their life, identity and beliefs respected by others.
Has the responsibility to create the conditions for others to fulfill their potential, acting to strengthen the dignity of others, including the protection of the natural world and the environment.
Can put dignity in action by standing up against injustice, intolerance and inequality.
What We Believe
What Is Dignity
Dignity is a feeling in your core.
A belief in your own worth.
A belief in the worth of others.
With dignity, we lead lives of hope and optimism and compassion,
Guided by a universal ethical compass.
Dignity is the belief that our basic humanity
Is shared with every other person on this planet.
Our Call To Action
A life of dignity means you are as valuable and important,
worthy and wanted, as any other human being.
It means, fundamentally, that you matter.
And when you believe you matter, then you know
That your voice matters,
Your relationships matter,
And your actions matter.
You have the confidence to act.
You know you will make a positive impact,
That you will work with others
To transform your community -- and the world,
Into one where understanding, compassion and love triumph.
You become a changemaker,
Or what we call a dignity-centered leader.
Our History
In 2005, three Young Global Leaders began a conversation at the World Economic Forum about how polarized the world felt.
So much divides us. Politics. Religion. Race. Borders. These divisions fuel hatred, conflict, war, intolerance and injustice. But everyone, everywhere, has the yearning to be understood, to be valued and recognized, to be able to fulfill their dreams and potential in life. This is universal and true for each one of us.
Determined to unite more people in the belief that everyone deserves to live a life of dignity, these young leaders — Crown Prince Haakon of Norway; John Bryant, CEO and Founder of Operation HOPE; and Pekka Himanen, author and philosopher — wrote the Founding Principles for a new nonprofit organization, Global Dignity. Muhammad Ali was the first person to sign on. They were supported in this by founding advisors Hilde Schwab and Irene Chu.
“We grew up in such vastly different communities and circumstances. Finland and Norway, and the notorious neighborhood of Compton in Los Angeles. As we looked back at our youth, each of us wished that we had been given access to this powerful ethical compass much earlier in life.” Pekka Himanen
Global Dignity now works in over 80 countries and reaches over 1 million people each year through Dignity Workshops, events and initiatives.
Highlights
Since 2006 Global Dignity has been working to instill a deeper understanding of the values behind the meaning of dignity and to support dignity-centered leaders active in their communities around the world.
2006
The idea of Global Dignity, born out of the 2005 World Economic Forum inaugural meeting of the Young Global Leaders, is developed into action. The first ever Global Dignity Day was celebrated in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The idea of Global Dignity, born out of the 2005 World Economic Forum inaugural meeting of the Young Global Leaders, is developed into action. The first ever Global Dignity Day was celebrated in Vancouver, British Columbia.
2009
Global Dignity continued to gain momentum, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir Richard Branson and Ambassador Andrew Young joining our Honorary Board. Muhammad Ali and others signed the Dignity Principles. Peter Gabriel sang to students and teachers during a Dignity Workshop, beginning our effort to engage artists at the global and local levels.
Global Dignity continued to gain momentum, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir Richard Branson and Ambassador Andrew Young joining our Honorary Board. Muhammad Ali and others signed the Dignity Principles. Peter Gabriel sang to students and teachers during a Dignity Workshop, beginning our effort to engage artists at the global and local levels.
2010
We expanded to over 30 countries, reaching over 6,000 young people through Global Dignity Day.
We expanded to over 30 countries, reaching over 6,000 young people through Global Dignity Day.
2011
The first Global Dignity Forum was organized in Finland with over 1,000 participants and keynote speeches by Bishop Desmond Tutu and Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari. Amartya Sen joined the Honorary Board. Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics wrote the “Dignity Song,” performed live on stage by NadirahX, continuing our efforts to engage artists, musicians and creativity in everything we do.
The first Global Dignity Forum was organized in Finland with over 1,000 participants and keynote speeches by Bishop Desmond Tutu and Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari. Amartya Sen joined the Honorary Board. Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics wrote the “Dignity Song,” performed live on stage by NadirahX, continuing our efforts to engage artists, musicians and creativity in everything we do.
2014
Global Dignity recruited 46 Country Chairs and five NGO’s as Partner Organizations, reaching over 300,000 young people in 2014. Local chapters expanded their work into schools and communities beyond Global Dignity Day, including in refugee camps and communities working with young people incarcerated in prison.
Global Dignity recruited 46 Country Chairs and five NGO’s as Partner Organizations, reaching over 300,000 young people in 2014. Local chapters expanded their work into schools and communities beyond Global Dignity Day, including in refugee camps and communities working with young people incarcerated in prison.
2015
Global Dignity received its first major grant of $300,000 from the Angelica Fuentes Foundation.
Global Dignity received its first major grant of $300,000 from the Angelica Fuentes Foundation.
2016
Global Dignity Day is celebrated in 70 + countries around the world, reaching over 480,000 young people. Many Countries and Partner Organizations expand the Workshops and Learning Experiences year round and begin conversations about “scale” and impact with education leaders and networks of schools.
Global Dignity Day is celebrated in 70 + countries around the world, reaching over 480,000 young people. Many Countries and Partner Organizations expand the Workshops and Learning Experiences year round and begin conversations about “scale” and impact with education leaders and networks of schools.
2017
Global Dignity expands the founding Board and hires its first Executive Director, opening its home office in New York City. More than 680,000 young people engaged in Global Dignity Day and dignity workshops and forums throughout the year.
Global Dignity expands the founding Board and hires its first Executive Director, opening its home office in New York City. More than 680,000 young people engaged in Global Dignity Day and dignity workshops and forums throughout the year.
2018
We launched the “Teaching Dignity” curriculum with more than 50 learning experiences to help children, young people, or people of any age understand the principles and power of dignity. 862,965 people around the world were engaged through Global Dignity Day and year-round Dignity Workshops, bringing the total number of people Global Dignity has reached to 2.4 million. Six new Partner Organizations signed on, increasing the organization’s reach by tens of thousands.
We launched the “Teaching Dignity” curriculum with more than 50 learning experiences to help children, young people, or people of any age understand the principles and power of dignity. 862,965 people around the world were engaged through Global Dignity Day and year-round Dignity Workshops, bringing the total number of people Global Dignity has reached to 2.4 million. Six new Partner Organizations signed on, increasing the organization’s reach by tens of thousands.
2019
Our leadership network expanded to 80 countries and we engaged 1.1 million young people around the world. The launch of our Affiliate Program and new digital toolkits encourage anyone, anywhere to hold a Global Dignity Day event or dignity workshop in their community.
Our leadership network expanded to 80 countries and we engaged 1.1 million young people around the world. The launch of our Affiliate Program and new digital toolkits encourage anyone, anywhere to hold a Global Dignity Day event or dignity workshop in their community.
2020
Despite the worldwide upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Global Dignity's work continued. Numerous learning resources were adapted or created for virtual settings, and our leadership network pivoted to largely virtual activities. "How Does Your Dignity Feel?", a coloring book and poem to help children understand dignity, was released as a free, downloadable resource. Global Dignity’s primary Learning Experiences were translated into Arabic, Spanish and French, and made available for free online. Dignity in the Workplace, the organization's newest initiative, was piloted with the global consulting firm AlixPartners. This program equips employees to deliver Dignity Workshops to children and young people in their communities or with a company’s charity partners.
Despite the worldwide upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Global Dignity's work continued. Numerous learning resources were adapted or created for virtual settings, and our leadership network pivoted to largely virtual activities. "How Does Your Dignity Feel?", a coloring book and poem to help children understand dignity, was released as a free, downloadable resource. Global Dignity’s primary Learning Experiences were translated into Arabic, Spanish and French, and made available for free online. Dignity in the Workplace, the organization's newest initiative, was piloted with the global consulting firm AlixPartners. This program equips employees to deliver Dignity Workshops to children and young people in their communities or with a company’s charity partners.
