Getting started

That's quite a lot, isn't it?

Many people underestimate the effect of exponential growth because it starts with tiny steps. So, 1% per day on an annual basis means a multiplication of 38. The same principle, of course, applies if you convince a few people to work with you on the future, and your group keeps growing. You have a greater effect each time, which also builds momentum.

Many movements that have changed the world started with small steps.

Movements initiated by a few people are also called grassroots movements.

Mahatma Gandhi

Many consider Mahatma Gandhi the founder of the nonviolent resistance movement. He mobilised millions of followers with his campaigns of civil disobedience against the British. His big moment was the Salt March in 1930, when he led a march to protest the British salt monopoly. Did you know that Gandhi drew inspiration from the freedom struggle in South Africa? As a young lawyer, he saw the oppression of Hindus there.

Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King Jr. was a key leader of the African American civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Peaceful resistance was also at the heart of his strategy. With his sharp rhetoric, he successfully rallied crowds to participate in sit-ins, marches, and boycotts. His “I have a dream” speech is, of course, an iconic example of this.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was the driving force behind the nonviolent resistance struggle against apartheid in South Africa. He spent 27 years in prison for his struggle and was released in 1990. He led a massive grassroots campaign of protests, strikes and civil disobedience to end systematic oppression. His work led to the first free elections in 1994, which he won. In doing so, he became South Africa's first black president.

Greta Thunberg

In 2018, as a high school student, Greta Thunberg initiated a solo protest strike to draw attention to the issue of climate change. Although many laughed at this teenager with her banner, it grew into a global grassroots youth movement. Students from around the world joined the weekly climate strikes.

All of them are charismatic leaders.

Still, according to Farid, we shouldn't focus too much on hero worship.

Not just one hero.

Farid rightly points out that the connection between people is much more important than the standalone figures themselves. In the stories we tell, transitions often come about because of one hero. That's quite different from the stories we just read about people like Mandela and Martin Luther King, in which a collective struggle played an essential role.

But multiple shoulders.

In reality, transitions are the result of groups of people willing to pull up their sleeves. If you study the history of grassroots movements, you find that the 'great leader' of a movement was more like a spokesperson, and that there were many others who did equally significant work and were similarly important leaders.

It often starts in the neighbourhood.

Would you also like to get in touch with your neighbours to talk about the future of your neighbourhood?

We are all designers of our own lives, and by extension, we shape the future.

- Farid Tabarki

What starts with small steps can become massive.

And you can accomplish a lot in a year. What's also true is that every year, in January, the gym is packed, and by February, the diehards have the space all to themselves again. Fortunately, we also have some valuable tips to share with you here.

Tip 1: Enthusiasm!

If you are enthusiastic about something, you usually don't need external pressure to do things. That’s because you hope and believe that wonderful things can be achieved, which makes it easier to persevere when you encounter obstacles.

How to cultivate enthusiasm?

To start with, a positive vision of the future is required. People like working toward a hopeful future rather than just being against things.

Connect your idea to human values such as justice, freedom, equality, or sustainability.

Celebrate your victories, no matter how small.

Encourage personal involvement.

Tip 2: Please remember important things.

We are busier than ever. How do you make sure you leave time for important things? For a project or assignment with a tight deadline, don't hesitate to act. In such urgent situations, you need to act quickly and put all your energy into it at once.

It's different for the long term. Change requires holding energy. Patience, imagination, an open mind, and a clear vision of the future are helpful. The major issue is that other urgent matters arise, demanding your attention on a daily basis.

The best time to plant a tree is 10 years ago.

The second-best time is now.

It starts with you!

If you remember one thing, let it be this: You don't have to be Mahatma Gandhi or Greta Thunberg to make a difference. The marbles season starts with one kid playing marbles with his friends. We hope you will use your new skills to make our shared future a little better.

Ready for the future(s).

Hopefully, this course has opened your eyes to the power of futures thinking. You have learned to think out of the box, to be open to people with different opinions and to let your imagination run wild.

Because you scrutinised your assumptions and limitations, you are better equipped for your future, whichever it may be.

It starts today.

The most significant step is applying futures thinking in practice. Keep a critical eye on yourself and the world. Surround yourself with people who challenge you to look just that little bit further or differently at things.

And now...

(...) drum roll (...)

You made it!

We are already at the end of The National Futures Course. But this is only the beginning; now is the time to go and build a desirable future together. Encourage others to get more involved in the future as well. And when you’ve found supporters, be sure to let us know with the hashtag #futurescourse.