On February 28, 2019, the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt shows the film “The Price of Free.” The award-winning documentary is about the decades-long struggle of the activist Kailash Satyarthi to liberate children from slavery and child labor. Even today, more than 150 million children worldwide are victims of slavery and abuse. Satyarthi was awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for his work and commitment.

Produced by Participant Media, the film won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City, USA. The trailer shows how much effort it takes even today to give every child the freedom to be a child.

“The Transformation of Finance: What Roles Could and Should Foundations Play?” – this is the topic of a panel discussion, which will be hosted by the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt during the next Münchner Stiftungsfrühling. Taking place on March 23–29, 2019, the Münchner Stiftungsfrühling provides foundations with a platform to present the diversity of their engagement. The BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt supports the event series and, in addition to the panel discussion, also co-organizes a workshop with the Social Entrepreneurship Akademie on the question: How can innovation and entrepreneurship help improve society? Social initiatives and startups from Munich and nearby areas introduce themselves. After that, participants have the opportunity to share their experiences.

In the virtual world, we are connected ever more closely, sharing interests with people from different countries. In real life, however, we become increasingly distant from those who perhaps live just around the corner. What can we do to prevent loneliness, isolation, and social division? Through its Sustainable Development Goal #11, “Sustainable Cities and Communities,” the United Nations calls for a more inclusive society. In Germany, the digital platform nebenan.de and its foundation are among the organizations working to promote neighborliness and community building.

As part of the Berliner Stiftungswoche, the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and Sebastian Gallander want to discuss ways of living together in the future. Sebastian Gallander is head of the nebenan.de Foundation and a member of the global BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Network.

In 2019, the BMW Foundation will continue its Global Table leadership series in San Diego, California (USA). Entitled “Transcending Borders,” the program will bring together leaders from all walks of life in the U.S.-Mexican border region.

At a time when walls and borders dominate the news cycle, the BMW Foundation’s Global Table aims to create a space in which leaders can come together and build bridges. We believe that the San Diego-Tijuana region offers us an extraordinary opportunity not only to illuminate the realities of division and polarization but also to showcase innovative approaches to weaving the social fabric. Together we want to develop ideas and inspiration on how to lead responsibly in divided societies and move toward a peaceful and sustainable future.

The current Global Table cycle will conclude in October 2019 with the Berlin Global Forum, which will present ideas and initiatives that have emerged from these leadership events.