I firmly believe in the ability of the individual to affect change, real change. The certainty in my conviction comes from the fact that I've been fortunate enough to see this ability in real life - to see an individual change the course of an entire country.
Earlier this week I went to a memorial service for a friend. To a few in Britain he may be known as the former managing editor of Readers Digest magazine but millions in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe Dimi Panitza will remember him as the biggest single catalyst for democratic change in the region.
Numerous obituaries abound with the many institutions, initiatives and awards Dimi established before, during and after the fall of communism in Bulgaria but relating to these grand achievements can be difficult. Simply listing these accomplishments is missing the point. Dimi drove change on the personal, individual level. He inspired and empowered others to affect change by bestowing a self-assurance few would find themselves. I got to know him through my work with Junior Achievement in Bulgaria (Young Enterprise in the UK) - an institution he established in the country which has since helped develop the professional skills of tens of thousands of young people.
One day Dimi called me from Paris. In his warm, booming voice he said "Boyan, there's a girl I'd like you to meet- Megi Kuneva, I think the two of you might get along". Quite quickly I caught on that the 'girl' was the former minister and EU Commissioner on Consumer Affairs, Meglena Kuneva. On his suggestion, we talked, met, had a few coffees and indeed found that we got along. One year on Meglena is a front-running presidential candidate and I'm proud to be actively helping with the campaign. All because of that quick unassuming call from Paris.
Change doesn't need to be grand, boastful or pompous to be meaningful. The seeds of change often go unnoticed until they spontaneously spring out of the ground. For his stature and experience Dimi was an incredibly humble man. Always giving, never asking. His memorial service was packed with some of the most influential people in Bulgaria's recent history. On saying a few words in memoriam of Dimi, Zhelyu Zelev, the country's first democratically elected president was reduced to tears. One could see the emotional loss in the eyes of hundreds of people whose job, whose life, is to stay firm and composed.
I take solace in what we've gained, not what we've lost. I'm sure it's how Dimi would want us to react. We've gained proof that one person, acting on their passion, can change a country by inspiring countless others to demand and pursue that change even in the face of extreme difficulties. His example is one which holds relevance far outside of Eastern Europe. In Britain we're facing critical structural problems. Youth unemployment, as in Europe, remains painfully high with little near-term hope in sight. The economy and the long-term future of the country lay at a crossroads.
Dimi Panitza has shown that we should not wait for our political nor our economic leaders to hand change down to us. He has shown that the capacity and responsibility to affect change lays squarely in our hands. The world is changing fast. The ability to harness that change effectively can be found in individual empowerment and action. Role models to millions such as President Barack Obama should look to people like Dimi Panitza as their role models. In their speeches and in their campaigns they should use their influence to inspire others to act, not idly hope and wait, expecting other to act on their behalf.
Goodbye Dimi, your passion and boundless energy will drive us on for generations to come.