SOPHIE SPILLARD, EXPLORER

Creating community education programs, from many beautiful moments of inspiration.

One stand-out moment being a talk by Kofi Anan. He commented: "those who are privileged enough to receive an education have influence, use it”. We graduated with a privilege: from having crossed paths with people who we shared moments of hilarity, joy, and sadness with; from having seen new corners of the world; and from lessons that inspired us to approach the world with a new perspective. Sharing some of that knowledge might inspire those around us, and create a butterfly effect.

My interest in education and purpose-led projects stems from a trip to Ecuador, where I was working as a model and filming a TV porgramme. It was a beautiful opportunity to experience the vitality of Latin America for the first time. Ecuador was an eye-opening contrast to the world I had known, it left many impressions on my heart.

Through collaborations with local businesses there, I had the opportunity to visit corporate offices and occasionally, their production facilities. Some, such as the Yanbal operation were outstanding: modern, automated and impressive. What stood out was their mission: to create business opportunities for women in the markets they serve, and to bring about a positive impact on society. It was a business founded in purpose.

Another factory that I remember fondly, was one that created denim pieces: it was a small, and very old site. There I met a woman who shared her story with me (since I didn’t speak much Spanish, mi chaperona helped to translate). We were similar in so many ways. The one difference that confronted me: our level of education, and it's potential to unlock economic opportunities. It was not that I was more intelligent, it was simply the coincidence of having greater access to education. It still saddens me to think of the conditions that she worked in, but, it also makes me smile to remember the pure joy that shone from her, as she spoke about the important things in her life, with such happiness: the true privilege of this world.

More details coming soon.