The Early Years

George Soros was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1930. As a young boy, he survived Nazi occupation and escaped Communist rule in Hungary by fleeing to England where he studied economics at the London School of Economics.

After graduation, Soros began working in finance, eventually founding his own hedge fund, Soros Fund Management, in 1969. Over the years, he became known as one of the most successful investors in history, with a net worth of over $23 billion.

“I’m only rich because I know when I’m wrong. I basically have survived by recognizing my mistakes.” – George Soros

But Soros’ wealth is not what defines him. He is also known for his philanthropy and his belief in an open society.

Support for an Open Society

In the 1970s, Soros started his first philanthropic efforts, supporting organizations that sought to promote human rights, free speech, and democracy. He established the Open Society Foundations in 1979, which are now active in over 120 countries around the world.

Soros believes that an open society is one where individuals are able to exercise their rights and participate in public life without fear of persecution or discrimination. He argues that open societies are more successful because they foster innovation, creativity, and collaboration.

Through his foundations, Soros supports a wide variety of causes, including education, public health, and environmental sustainability. He also focuses on supporting marginalized communities and those who are working to create social change in their own countries.

“I have always harbored an exaggerated view of my self-importance. To put it bluntly, I fancied myself as some kind of god or an economic reformer like Keynes, or, even better, a scientist like Einstein.” – George Soros

But Soros’ support is not just financial. He also provides support by empowering those who are doing the work on the ground.

Empowering Others

As Soros has said, “It’s not me doing it. But I can empower them. I can support them, and I can help them.”

Soros believes that his role is to support those who are already working for change in their own communities. He provides funding, but also seeks to empower individuals and organizations to create sustainable change from within.

For example, the Open Society Foundations supports initiatives that seek to advance access to justice, promote human rights, and protect the rights of minorities and marginalized groups. By partnering with local organizations and individuals, Soros’ foundation seeks to create lasting change that is rooted in local knowledge and experience.

Another example of Soros’ support is his investment in education and leadership development. Soros’ foundations support scholarships, fellowships, and training programs that seek to empower a new generation of leaders who are committed to social change.

“I don’t look at things in terms of obstacles or challenges, I just try to figure out what needs to be done and how to do it as efficiently and effectively as possible.” – George Soros

Through his efforts in supporting an open society, Soros has shown that change is possible, and that empowering others is essential to achieving lasting social change.

Conclusion

In conclusion, George Soros’ journey of philanthropy and support for an open society is an inspiring one. His belief in empowering others and creating sustainable change is a model we can all learn from.

To support an open society, we can:

• Support organizations and individuals who are already working for change in their own communities
• Empower marginalized communities and individuals to create lasting change from within
• Invest in education and leadership development to create a new generation of leaders committed to social change