Speeches

September 12 2008

Kenneth Kaunda
Your Excellency, Former President and Chairperson, Justice Cameron, Professor Were, Bishop Russell, My fellow Champions, Friends and partners:

With the adoption of this Mission Paper, our two days of meetings have drawn to a close.
I would like, on behalf of the Champions, to thank our host and Chairperson, His Excellency Former President Mr. Mogae, for his truly extraordinary work in convening this exceptional group of dignitaries. First, he called the Champions together in Mexico City for the announcement of this fine effort, and he worked to set the tone of the concept paper under which we labored the last two days. The deliberations were not easy, but the Champions rose to the challenge.

I would like to thank all of the participants who were involved in the process of refining our mission and priorities. Your willingness to work together helped us reach consensus in the true spirit of partnership.
Before I officially close this meeting, I wanted to talk about Champions. We have used the term a lot over the last two days. Our guest speaker from the Southern African Development Community yesterday talked about leadership, but I think we should reflect for a minute or two on what it means to be a Champion.

If you have been watching television, you probably have seen the coverage of the Olympic Games in Beijing. The word Champion comes up a lot during the games. The American Swimmer, Michael Phelps, who won eight gold medals to set a new Olympic record, certainly was described as a Champion.
But what is it that makes a Champion? What separates a Champion from the rest of the crowd?
I want to read you something from a non-profit organization called the “Heart of a Champion Foundation.” This foundation’s mission is to address the current crisis of character in today’s youth.

The foundation has something called the “Champions Creed” and I wanted to read it to you today because I think it’s relevant... It goes:

Champions give their all … no matter the score
Champions do what is right even when it hurts
Champions know winning is not necessarily measured by the final score.
Champions take a stand for what is right, even when they stand alone.
Champions see every challenge as an opportunity.
Champions make those around them better.
Champions do the right thing even when no one is watching.
Champions dedicate themselves to prepare for success.
Champions put the success of others above individual achievement.
Champions live by a higher personal standard.
Champions stand firm when others around them fall.
Champions live what they speak and speak what they live.
Champions may fail...but they never quit.

We have been reminded by many speakers over the last two days that Sub-Saharan Africa is home to more than one third of all HIV infections and AIDS deaths. AIDS killed 1.5 million people in 2007, and was the leading cause of death in Africa.
We are calling ourselves the Champions for an AIDS-free Generation. We come from different backgrounds and have different tactics, but we need to act together as Champions. The task confronting us is so great that we need passion, we need advocacy, we need mobilization of efforts, and we need a common purpose.

The impact of this interaction has been evident in the deliberation over the Champions’ mission … which we have just adopted. I know that the Champions team cannot be all things to everyone. But I know that, thanks to your efforts, the draft got stronger – not weaker – in the final hours.
I would hope that we can all use our Champion energy to translate this plan into synergistic action, to make a difference between life and death for many, and give the next generation hope for an AIDS-free tomorrow.
Thank you.

Private Bag 00318, Gaborone, Botswana, Tel: +267 369 7291, Fax: +267 391 4097, E-mail: champion@hivfreechampions.org
Contact Us - Disclaimer - Site Design and Development by MINDQ