As world leaders convene in Davos for the World Economic Forum 2015 this week, they’ll be discussing everything from climate change and Ebola to stalled economic growth in China and the upcoming elections in Greece. They’ll also be participating in daily meditation sessions.
Under this year’s theme, “The New Global Context,” the 45th annual WEF conference will be honing in on the major problems the world currently faces — not only digging into economics and policy but discussing the importance of health, well-being, mindfulness and giving.
Here are 8 ways the conversation at the World Economic Forum is going beyond business and delving into bigger questions.
“We are here to be passionate and to show our compassion.”
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Walking, for a good cause.
All the while, The Davos Challenge: Walk for Education will be measuring the steps taken by each Davos attendee with FitBit trackers in order to benefit schoolchildren in rural South Africa, many of whom have to walk 6 kilometers or more to school each day. Led by the World Bicycle Relief in collaboration with UBS and WEF 2015, Walk for Education aims to educate world leaders about the struggle these kids face and provide some immediate relief. Every 6 kilometers walked translates into one bicycle donation, and by the end of the week, the collaborators hope to be able to give 2,500 bicycles to the students in need, cutting down their commuting times and encouraging better attendance and higher academic achievement in the process. With all that walking, Davos regulars know the importance of bringing along the right footwear.
