A taxi ride too short and just long enough

Taxi at ridiculous o’clock in the morning. Still half asleep. Very chatty taxi driver, ending his shift. Quite honestly, I was not in the mood for talking. But being polite was of course on the cards. ”Where you off to?” ”Stockholm, for a conference. I’ll be representing the scouts and guides of Sweden.” ”Scouts? I was a scout once!”

Turns out, he was born in the Congo and a scout when he was a kid. We switch to French for the fun of it, he was happy to chat in his mother tongue and I, well, need the practice… chatting about scouting and guiding, young people’s needs, the perception of Africa and how we too seldom get to hear of the good news in the world. Obviously, this taxi ride was way too short.

We swap contacts. I may have recruited a new member for scouts in Sweden. As for the conference #agenda2030se and how Sweden gets started on the global goals he was the best preparation - we are a global movement, stretching across cultures and believes for a common goal. A sustainable future for all. At home, and with our brothers and sisters around the world. We want and can make a difference, leaving this world a little bit better than we found it. Leaving no one behind.

17 goals with targets and indicators are what the politicians need for their to do list. We are prepared to tick off the tasks.

And, always, always chat with the taxi driver and any other stranger that crosses your path. You never know what wonderful conversation hides behind a Good morning.