World Merit: The Story Behind My Face

A hedonistic excuse perhaps, but an author should collect a vast anthology of life experiences to mix with imagination. An author should love, risk, lose, win, and feel joy as well as pain and despair. Imagination should only take sole lead in writing when an experience has been too dangerous, illegal, immoral or impossible to collect.

Collecting insight into humanity came most intensely in two periods of my life so far...

Firstly, starting at the age of 16, there was a period of my life ruled by trauma and then travel. I grew up at that time and grew understanding. I'll refer to this period more in the future I'd imagine.

Then, secondly, the World Merit years. A period when I was absorbed in the creative, fun and compassionate elements of men and women from around the world - but also learnt in more detail the destructive forces of humanity.

My 8 years at World Merit were a time filled with travel and cultural exchange, and will likely contribute most to the characters developed in my books. It was a valuable time for the world building that comes in my fantasy novels - and I really can't see how I could develop something rich without the experiences I luckily gained as director of a global youth movement.

Whilst at World Merit my hair became grey, the lines on my face became more prominent, and for some reason, during the 2016 Merit360 program in New York, a hole appeared in my forehead that has now become a decent scar. In the photo above I almost labelled my scar with an arrow and the text stating 'A-Hole' but then I thought, maybe I shouldn't give you such a set up for how you think of me...

Stress was caused by growing insight into the problems of the world as framed by the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. I immersed myself in trying to comprehend the interconnected issues that we face, and it could have been easy to be overwhelmed. I was lucky however, I was part of a movement that gave me hope.

World Merit brought me in contact with brilliant young adults who were trying to improve things. It also led me to meeting other movements that gave true hope and leadership, like AIESEC and Plastic Bank.

Change Isn't A Competition - But you Should Move Faster To Win

In my time leading World Merit, I met numerous Heads of State, many business leaders, and thousands of activists. Some had resources to make big positive changes to the world and some were attempting to do so by fighting with every fibre of their being. It is the latter that impressed me most and it is those that I believe need their story to be told. It is these activists that are most inspiring.

Be In the Upcoming Book

“If I met you in World Merit PLEASE make contact. Remind me of the stories and more importantly tell me of the campaigns, events, or programs that you have led on and around World Merit.”

In addition to finishing the Tattoo Trilogy, I've agreed to compile a book about the many wonderful stories, and the many people that I met through World Merit. I'm looking to feature more than one hundred stories and over one hundred people from all around the world. I'd really like to write about you!

Please be in touch if you are in ANY of the following photos OR if you have World Merit and Merit360 photos and stories of your own!