I set out on this journey in January 2009, after about 5 years of ‘reflecting’ on what I felt was a call to literally “give my life away” (my comfortable existence at the time) and set forth on a quest (of sorts) on behalf of the young people of the world.

This “call” I am referring to is a sense of purpose, conviction and an unrelenting inner-voice that says, “go and make a difference.” It comes, I believe, from the ‘goodness’ that dwells within me, that spark of the Divine that is in each of us and that spark turns into a flame when it connects with the Divine in another. Of course we have these connections throughout our lives, but one occurrence stands out for me as a turning point: It was during my first visit to Mermier bal Ashram in Mumbai, India, in 2004.

One day we were walking through a nearby slum to visit one of the Day Care Centres and I found myself literally walking along a drain with my feet on either side of it hoping not to fall in! Lining this drain on both sides were dwellings made of tin, cardboard and other scrap materials – what the residents of this place called ‘home’. I had never been anywhere like this before. What happened next was something totally unexpected and more shocking to me than any of the sights before my eyes. As I passed these dwellings, women came out and smiled big happy smiles at me saying “welcome!” These women were willing to rise above any kind of need to protect their own dignity in order to make me feel welcome.

The shame that comes hand in hand with the poverty-stricken situation in which they were living, was put aside – probably their own hunger and physical ailments too. It was more important to welcome the stranger. Not only did I realize in that moment just how generous these women were but I gained an inside-out perspective on “happiness.” The smiles on their faces and the expression in their voices reflected a kind of joy that did not belong with these physical surroundings.

This moment was my epiphany. I’ve always been taught that happiness is not related to possession, accumulation or any material things. But here I came to understand in a way that was not possible reading any books. This was a happiness that reflected a real “knowing” what a precious gift each day is. I learnt in that moment (and many other moments over the following years) that they (those who are in poverty) are actually rich in so many ways. It is we (those who live in the wealth of western society) who are poor. It is our endless obsession with the material thats impoverishes us – we become blind to the gift of life and the essence of happiness found in communities who rely on each other.

We are poor because we are conditioned to dis-connect. They are rich because they are able to connect…because they know their need for each other. My epiphany also gave me the insight that we are all deeply connected and although I’ve always considered myself to be fortunate to be “free,” in fact, if THEY are not free, then I am not really free. That is why I must go. There is no longer any peace just enjoying all the things that life has to offer in Australia. I need to go about the work of peace-building in response to what I now know.

What finally gave me the “conviction” to pioneer something that would enable so many others to have their lives transformed in this way, is the young people with whom I had the privilege of working over the past 15 years. It is both their willingness to step outside their comfort zones to reach out to others as well as their responsiveness to the experience that inspires me.

I have heard countless young people say, “This has completely changed my life” … and I know it to be true.