Patrick Awuah: Educating a new generation of African leaders

譯者: Hai-Po Chan 審譯者: Bill Hsiung

Like many of you here, I am trying to contribute

像許多在座的各位一樣，我試著

towards a renaissance in Africa.

為非洲的復興做出貢獻。

The question of transformation in Africa

非洲轉型的問題，

really is a question of leadership.

實際上是一個領導統御的問題，

Africa can only be transformed by enlightened leaders.

非洲的轉型要靠受到啟發的領導者。

And it is my contention that the manner in which

這是我的論點，

we educate our leaders is fundamental

即我們如何教育我們的領導者，將是我們

to progress on this continent.

在這個大陸上取得進展的基礎。

I want to tell you some stories that explain my view.

我想告訴你們一些故事，來說明我的觀點。

We all heard about the importance of stories yesterday.

我們昨天都聽說了故事的重要性。

An American friend of mine this year volunteered as a nurse in Ghana,

今年，我的一個美國朋友，自願到加納當護士義工。

and in a period of three months she came to a conclusion

三個月後，她對於非洲領導統御的情況，

about the state of leadership in Africa

得到了一個結論，

that had taken me over a decade to reach.

那是我花了十年以上的時間才得以了解的內容。

Twice she was involved in surgeries

她參與了兩次手術，

where they lost power at the hospital.

那時醫院停電，

The emergency generators did not start.

備用發電機沒有啟動，

There was not a flashlight, not a lantern, not a candle --

也沒有手電筒，沒有燈籠，甚至沒有蠟燭，

pitch black.

只是一片漆黑。

The patient's cut open, twice.

在黑暗中對病人動刀 — 兩次，

The first time it was a C-section.

第一次是剖腹產。

Thankfully, baby was out -- mother and child survived.

幸運的是，嬰兒順利取出 — 母子均安。

The second time was a procedure that involved local anesthesia.

第二次是個涉及局部麻醉的手術，

Anesthetic wears off. The patient feels pain.

麻醉消退後，病人感到疼痛，

He's crying. He's screaming. He's praying.

他大聲哭喊，大聲尖叫，而且不斷祈禱，

Pitch black. Not a candle, not a flashlight.

但仍然是一片漆黑，沒有蠟燭，連一支手電筒都沒有。

And that hospital could have afforded flashlights.

醫院應該是有能力提供手電筒的，

They could have afforded to purchase these things, but they didn't.

他們負擔得起購買這些東西，但他們沒有買。

And it happened twice.

這發生了兩次。

Another time, she watched in horror as nurses watched a patient die

還有一次，她震驚地看著護士們眼睜睜地看著病人死去，

because they refused to give her oxygen that they had.

因為他們拒絕供給她氧氣，而醫院的確是有氧氣的。

And so three months later,

因此，三個月後，

just before she returned to the United States,

就在她返回美國前，

nurses in Accra go on strike.

護士們在阿克拉進行罷工。

And her recommendation is

而她的建議是，

take this opportunity to fire everyone, start all over again.

藉此機會，把大家全部解雇，從頭再來。

Start all over again.

從頭再來。

Now what does this have to do with leadership?

所以，這與領導力有什麼關係？

You see, the folks at the ministry of health,

你知道的，這是衛生署、

the hospital administrators, the doctors, the nurses --

醫院的管理者與醫生、護士們共同的錯 —

they are among just five percent of their peers

他們只占同年齡人口中的百分之五，

who get an education after secondary school.

他們是受過高等教育的知識份子，

They are the elite. They are our leaders.

他們是精英，是我們的領導者。

Their decisions, their actions matter.

他們的決策與行為影響甚鉅。

And when they fail, a nation literally suffers.

當他們失敗時，毫不誇張的，整個國家將會深受其苦。

So when I speak of leadership,

所以當我提到領導力，

I'm not talking about just political leaders.

我不只在講政治領袖，

We've heard a lot about that.

那些我們聽得夠多了。

I'm talking about the elite.

我所指的是精英分子，

Those who've been trained,

是那些受過專業訓練的，

whose job it is to be the guardians of their society.

他們的工作是成為社會的護衛者，

The lawyers, the judges, the policemen, the doctors,

包括律師，法官，警察，醫生，

the engineers, the civil servants --

工程師，公務員 ...

those are the leaders.

這些都是領導者，

And we need to train them right.

而我們需要正確的訓練他們。

Now, my first pointed and memorable experience with leadership in Ghana

現在，我想談一下，我在迦納的第一次，有關指導統御深刻又難忘的經驗。

occurred when I was 16 years old.

那時我十六歲，

We had just had a military coup,

我們國家剛發生政變，

and soldiers were pervasive in our society.

社會上到處都是士兵，

They were a pervasive presence.

他們散布在各個地方。

And one day I go to the airport to meet my father,

有一天，我去機場見我的父親，

and as I walk up this grassy slope from the car park

我從停車處沿著草地斜坡向上走，

to the terminal building,

去到航運站大樓。

I'm stopped by two soldiers wielding AK-47 assault weapons.

我被兩個手上揮舞著 AK-47 步槍的士兵攔住，

And they asked me to join a crowd of people

他們叫我加入一群人中，

that were running up and down this embankment.

這群人在防線旁跑上跑下的，

Why? Because the path I had taken was considered out of bounds.

為甚麼呢？因為我走的道路是禁止通行的，

No sign to this effect.

但是並沒有標示說明。

Now, I was 16. I was very worried about

那時我十六歲，我非常擔心

what my peers at school might think

我在學校的同學們會怎麼想？

if they saw me running up and down this hill.

如果他們看到我在這小山丘跑上跑下的，

I was especially concerned of what the girls might think.

我特別擔心女孩子們會怎麼想？

And so I started to argue with these men.

所以我開始與士兵們爭辯，

It was a little reckless, but you know, I was 16.

那有點魯莽，但，你們知道的，那時我才十六歲，

I got lucky.

我非常幸運，

A Ghana Airways pilot falls into the same predicament.

一位迦納航空的飛行員與我陷在相同的處境上，

Because of his uniform they speak to him differently,

但因為他的制服，士兵對他說話的態度就不一樣，

and they explain to him that they're just following orders.

士兵跟他解釋說他們只是奉命行事，

So he takes their radio, talks to their boss,

所以那位飛行員用他們的對講機與士兵長官通話，

and gets us all released.

結果是我們全部被釋放。

What lessons would you take from an experience like this?

如果是你，會從這經驗學到甚麼呢？

Several, for me.

對我而言，有幾個教訓：

Leadership matters. Those men are following

首先，領導統御很重要，這些人（士兵）是遵命行事，

the orders of a superior officer.

由其長官處接受到命令，

I learned something about courage.

另外，我學習到勇氣的重要性，

It was important not to look at those guns.

重要的是不要去專注在那些槍枝上面，

And I also learned that it can be helpful to think about girls.

同時我也學習到，當想到女生時對情況可能是會有幫助的。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

So a few years after this event, I leave Ghana on a scholarship

所以在這事件之後隔了幾年，我獲得獎學金出國去念書，

to go to Swarthmore College for my education.

去到史瓦斯摩大學攻讀。

It was a breath of fresh air.

對我而言，那是個嶄新的體驗。

You know, the faculty there didn't want us to memorize information

你知道嗎？ 那邊的教師們不想要我們死讀強記，

and repeat back to them as I was used to back in Ghana.

背書給他們聽 — 這是我在迦納習以為常的學習方法。

They wanted us to think critically.

他們想要我們學習批判性的思考，

They wanted us to be analytical.

他們想要我們具有分析能力，

They wanted us to be concerned about social issues.

他們想要我們關心社會議題。

In my economics classes I got high marks

我在經濟學這門課上得分很高，

for my understanding of basic economics.

那是因為我對基本經濟學的理解。

But I learned something more profound than that,

但除此之外，我學到更深刻的東西，

which is that the leaders -- the managers of Ghana's economy --

那就是 — 迦納經濟體的管理者們，

were making breathtakingly bad decisions

做了極端糟糕的決策，

that had brought our economy to the brink of collapse.

正因如此，我們的經濟已被帶至破產邊緣。

And so here was this lesson again -- leadership matters.

所以再一次地驗證 — 領導統御很重要。

It matters a great deal.

非常非常地重要！

But I didn't really fully understand what had happened to me at Swarthmore.

但那時，我仍然沒有完全理解史瓦斯摩大學對我到底造成了甚麼影響。

I had an inkling,

我只是微微有些感覺，

but I didn't fully realize it until I went out into the workplace

一直到我畢業出去工作後我才完全了解。

and I went to work at Microsoft Corporation.

我進入微軟工作，

And I was part of this team -- this thinking, learning team

我是這個團隊中的一員 — 一個思考，學習的團隊。

whose job it was to design and implement new software

我們團隊的使命是設計與撰寫

that created value in the world.

能為世界創造價值的新軟體。

And it was brilliant to be part of this team.

能夠成為這團隊中的一員真的是很帥氣，

It was brilliant.

超棒的！

And I realized just what had happened to me at Swarthmore,

到此我才了解史瓦斯摩大學對我造成的影響是甚麼。

this transformation --

這種轉變 —

the ability to confront problems, complex problems,

是有能力去面對問題，複雜的問題，

and to design solutions to those problems.

然後去設計解決這些問題的方案。

The ability to create is the most empowering thing

創造力是上天所賦予人們的能力中

that can happen to an individual.

最棒的一件事，

And I was part of that.

而我曾是那個創作團隊中的一員。

Now, while I was at Microsoft, the annual revenues of that company

現在再說到，當我在微軟時，公司一年的營收

grew larger than the GDP of the Republic of Ghana.

成長至超過迦納共和國的國民生產總額。

And by the way, it's continued to.

而且，附帶一提，它仍持續在增長中，

The gap has widened since I left.

自我離開後，這差距就更大了。

Now, I've already spoken about one of the reasons why this has occurred.

我已經說了這背後的其中一個原因了，

I mean, it's the people there who are so hardworking,

我是說，公司裡面的人是如此努力地工作，

persistent, creative, empowered.

他們堅持不懈，充滿創意，且激勵不斷。

But there were also some external factors:

但是在此之外也有一些外在的因素，

free markets, the rule of law, infrastructure.

像是自由市場，法治規範，基礎設施。

These things were provided by institutions

這些是由政府機構所提供的，

run by the people that I call leaders.

由我稱為領導者的人所運作的。

And those leaders did not emerge spontaneously.

而這些領導者不是自動產生的，

Somebody trained them to do the work that they do.

要有人訓練他們如何做他們的工作。

Now, while I was at Microsoft, this funny thing happened.

當我在微軟時，一件有趣的事情發生了，

I became a parent.

我為人父母了。

And for the first time, Africa mattered more to me than ever before.

生平第一次，我感受到非洲對我的重要性更甚於以往。

Because I realized that the state of the African continent

因為我了解到，非洲大陸的狀況，

would matter to my children and their children.

將會影響到我的孩子及未來孩子們的孩子。

That the state of the world -- the state of the world

而且世界的狀況 — 整個世界的情況，

depends on what's happening to Africa,

會取決於非洲所發生之事，

as far as my kids would be concerned.

就像我考慮到我孩子的未來一樣。

And at this time, when I was going through

所以在那一次我是經歷了，

what I call my "pre-mid-life crisis,"

我所謂的「前中年危機」。

Africa was a mess.

非洲那時是一團糟。

Somalia had disintegrated into anarchy.

索馬尼亞已瓦解為無政府狀態，

Rwanda was in the throes of this genocidal war.

盧安達處在種族戰爭的陣痛中。

And it seemed to me that that was the wrong direction,

對我而言，似乎是走在錯誤的方向上，

and I needed to be back helping.

我需要回去幫助。

I couldn't just stay in Seattle and raise my kids

我不能只是待在西雅圖撫養我的孩子，

in an upper-middle class neighborhood and feel good about it.

住在一個中高階級的社區，然後自得其樂。

This was not the world that I'd want my children to grow up in.

這不是我希望我孩子成長的世界。

So I decided to get engaged, and the first thing that I did

所以我決定投身參與其中，而我所做的第一件事，

was to come back to Ghana and talk with a lot of people

是回到迦納與很多人溝通，

and really try to understand what the real issues were.

真正地試著了解問題的關鍵是甚麼。

And three things kept coming up for every problem:

後來發現每一個問題都包含三個層面：

corruption, weak institutions

貪污腐敗，機構薄弱

and the people who run them -- the leaders.

以及運作機構的人 — 領導者們。

Now, I was a little scared

那時我有一些害怕，

because when you see those three problems,

因為當你看到這三個問題時，

they seem really hard to deal with.

它們看起來真的都很難處理。

And they might say, "Look, don't even try."

有些人會說，你看看這些問題，甚至不用嘗試去解決！

But, for me, I asked the question,

但對我而言，我問自己一個問題，

"Well, where are these leaders coming from?

這些領導者是從哪裡來的呢？

What is it about Ghana that produces leaders

為什麼迦納會產生出

that are unethical or unable to solve problems?"

這些沒有道德又無法解決問題的領導者呢？

So I went to look at what was happening in our educational system.

所以我探究我們的教育系統到底出了什麼狀況，

And it was the same -- learning by rote --

發現到它一直都是一個模樣 — 死記硬背。

from primary school through graduate school.

從小學一直到研究所都是這個樣子，

Very little emphasis on ethics,

非常不重視道德倫理。

and the typical graduate

你知道嗎？整體而言，一般

from a university in Ghana has a stronger sense

從迦納的大學畢業的學生對於

of entitlement than a sense of responsibility.

權利的渴望勝過其責任感。

This is wrong.

這是錯的。

So I decided to engage this particular problem.

所以我決定與這個特有的問題交鋒。

Because it seems to me that every society, every society,

對我而言看起來，每一個社會，每一個社會，

must be very intentional about how it trains its leaders.

都必定會非常重視如何訓練指導者。

And Ghana was not paying enough attention.

但迦納並沒有投入足夠的關切，

And this is true across sub-Saharan Africa, actually.

事實上，這情況普遍存在於撒哈拉撒沙漠以南的非洲國家中。

So this is what I'm doing now.

所以這就是我目前的工作，

I'm trying to bring the experience that I had at Swarthmore to Africa.

我試著將我在史瓦斯摩的經驗帶回到非洲。

I wish there was a liberal arts college in every African country.

我盼望在每一個非洲國家能有一個人文教育學院。

I think it would make a huge difference.

我想這會造成很大的不同。

And what Ashesi University is trying to do

阿敘宜大學的宗旨在於

is to train a new generation of ethical, entrepreneurial leaders.

培訓新一代具有道德及創業精神的領導者。

We're trying to train leaders of exceptional integrity,

我們試著訓練出具有優異品格的領導者，

who have the ability to confront the complex problems,

他們能有能力面對複雜的問題，

ask the right questions, and come up with workable solutions.

提出對的問題，進而能設計出可行的方案。

I'll admit that there are times when it seems like "Mission: Impossible,"

我承認有些時候它看起來就像是「不可能的任務」，

but we must believe that these kids are smart.

但我們必須相信這些孩子是聰明的，

That if we involve them in their education,

如果我們將他們納入他們自身的教育中，

if we have them discuss the real issues that they confront --

如果我們讓他們討論他們將會面對的議題，

that our whole society confronts --

同時也是我們整個社會所面對的 —

and if we give them skills that enable them to engage the real world,

如果我們教導他們能在現實世界中活用的技巧，

that magic will happen.

那麼神奇的事情就會發生。

Now, a month into this project, we'd just started classes.

現在，這計畫已經開始一個月了，我們剛開課。

And a month into it, I come to the office,

在開始了一個月後，我進到辦公室，

and I have this email from one of our students.

收到一位學生的電子郵件。

And it said, very simply, "I am thinking now."

信上說得非常簡單：「我現在會思考了」

And he signs off, "Thank you."

然後他在信尾寫道：「謝謝你」

It's such a simple statement.

這封信如此簡單地陳述，

But I was moved almost to tears

但我幾乎感動地落淚，

because I understood what was happening to this young man.

因為我了解這位年輕人所發生的轉變。

And it is an awesome thing to be a part

能夠以如此方式

of empowering someone in this way.

來授予人力量，真的是太棒了！

I am thinking now.

我現在會思考了。

This year we challenged our students

今年，我們挑戰我們的學生，

to craft an honor code themselves.

讓他們自己訂定校規。

There's a very vibrant debate going on on campus now

現在在校園中，持續進行著響亮的辯論，

over whether they should have an honor code,

辯論是否應該設立校規。

and if so, what it should look like.

如果要有，那應該是什麼樣的？

One of the students asked a question that just warmed my heart.

有一個學生問了我一個問題，令我很窩心。

Can we create a perfect society?

我們能創建一個完美的社會嗎？

Her understanding that a student-crafted honor code

在她的認知中，一個由學生訂定的校規，

constitutes a reach towards perfection is incredible.

是不可能完美的。

Now, we cannot achieve perfection,

即使，我們無法達到完美，

but if we reach for it, then we can achieve excellence.

但是如果我們追求完美，我們便會獲得卓越。

I don't know ultimately what they will do.

我不曉得最後他們會如何做，

I don't know whether they will decide to have this honor code.

我不知道他們是否會決定訂定校規，

But the conversation they're having now --

但是他們現在每天談論的是 —

about what their good society should look like,

關於他們理想的社會應該怎樣？

what their excellent society should look like,

關於他們卓越的社會應該如何？

is a really good thing.

真是件很棒的事情。

Am I out of time? OK.

我超過時間嗎？ 好的。

Now, I just wanted to leave that slide up

現在我就停在這張投影片上，

because it's important that we think about it.

因為我們認為它很重要。

I'm very excited about the fact

有一件事我很興奮，

that every student at Ashesi University does community service before they graduate.

就是在阿敘宜大學的每位學生在畢業之前都會做社區服務。

That for many of them, it has been a life-altering experience.

對他們很多人而言，那是一個改變生命的經驗。

These young future leaders are beginning to understand

這些年輕的未來領導者開始了解，

the real business of leadership,

領導統御的真正內涵，

the real privilege of leadership,

領導統御的真正權力，

which is after all to serve humanity.

那就是，服務人群。

I am even more thrilled by the fact that least year

我更覺得震撼的是在去年，

our student body elected a woman

我們的學生會選出了一位女性學生，

to be the head of Student Government.

成為學生政府的領袖。

It's the first time in the history of Ghana

這在迦納歷史上是頭一次，

that a woman has been elected head of Student Government

女性被選為學生政府的領袖，

at any university.

是迦納所有大學的首例。

It says a lot about her.

這是她本人的一項大成就，

It says a lot about the culture that's forming on campus.

也代表了在校園中正在形成的文化，

It says a lot about her peers who elected her.

對那些投票給她的同學來說也很重要。

She won with 75 percent of the vote.

她贏得了 75% 的選票，

And it gives me a lot of hope.

這給了我很大的希望。

It turns out that corporate West Africa

事實證明整個西非的國家，

also appreciates what's happening with our students.

也都非常賞識我們學生們的轉變。

We've graduated two classes of students to date.

到目前為止，我們已有兩屆畢業生，

And every single one of them has been placed.

他們每一個人都佔了一席之地。

And we're getting great reports back

我們陸續收到非常正面的報告，

from corporate Ghana, corporate West Africa,

這些報告來自於整個迦納及整個非洲。

and the things that they're most impressed about is work ethic.

令我們印像最深刻的是職業道德。

You know, that passion for what they're doing.

你知道的，他們對所做之事投入的熱情，

The persistence, their ability to deal with ambiguity,

堅忍不拔，及處理模棱兩可問題的能力。

their ability to tackle problems that they haven't seen before.

以及處理他們從未遇到過的問題之能力。

This is good because

這是很棒的，你知道，

over the past five years, there have been times

在過去五年中，曾有過多少次，

when I've felt this is "Mission: Impossible."

我感覺到這是「不可能的任務」。

And it's just wonderful to see these glimmers

但現在這簡直是太美妙了！ 慢慢地，看到了一絲絲的曙光，

of the promise of what can happen if we train our kids right.

對於未來可能發生之事的願景，只要我們正確的教育我們的孩子。

I think that the current and future leaders of Africa

我認為非洲目前及未來的領導者，

have an incredible opportunity

有一個難以置信的機會，

to drive a major renaissance on the continent.

去引領非洲大陸的復興。

It's an incredible opportunity.

它是一個不可思議的機會，

There aren't very many more opportunities like this in the world.

這世界上並沒有其它許多像這樣的機會。

I believe that Africa has reached an inflection point

我相信非洲已經到達它的轉捩點，

with a march of democracy and free markets across the continent.

隨著橫跨整個大陸的民主風潮及自由市場，

We have reached a moment from which can emerge

我們已經到達了一個可以

a great society within one generation.

在這世代中建立美好社會的時刻。

It will depend on inspired leadership.

它仰賴被啟發的領導統御。

And it is my contention that the manner in which we train our leaders

我的論點是，我們訓練領導者的方式，

will make all the difference.

能夠產生完全不同的結果。

Thank you, and God bless.

謝謝，願神祝福您們！

(Applause)

（掌聲）