About me
Hi, my name is Saarah. I care deeply about equity in the world and solving pressing issues, because every individual deserves equal opportunities and a chance to thrive. I believe a ‘changemaker’ is someone who has the vision to identify opportunities, take calculated risks and create innovative solutions that can positively impact society. I’m inspired by Muhammad Yunus who founded the Grameen Bank and created the idea of microfinance loans. This initiative gives small low interest loans to women to start businesses in rural villages, which has helped Bangladesh to develop.
Idea and Inspiration
Witnessing disparities in access to education, healthcare and basic human rights fuels my determination to create positive change. By addressing these challenges, we can build a more inclusive and just society, where everyone’s potential is highlighted, regardless of their background or circumstances.
I am currently working on an idea which is helping stay-at-home mothers or housewives find more social and job opportunities. During my market research I found there were many studies showing that this group of women feel social isolation, loneliness and a lack of purpose. I’ve also witnessed this in my own experience from the women I have around me. My idea is to provide an app or website that connects these women to local opportunities, signposting them to places where they can gather and speak to people, perhaps volunteer in schools, find support to get back into work and develop key career skills.
Changemakers
My interest for Changemakers stems from my degree in International Development and the desire to leverage my knowledge and skills to address global challenges and contribute to sustainable development and social justice on a global scale. I’m passionate about being part of a movement that works directly with communities to create positive social impact through innovative and sustainable solutions. Changemakers aligns with my desire to create a meaningful difference in the world.
So far, my experience on the programme has been transformative. Engaging with a diverse group of passionate individuals and learning about the inspiration behind their ideas has been very enlightening. I joined for the experience, and it has exceeded my expectations. I have learnt so many new things and have developed many new skills. What’s surprised me most is learning about the time, effort and passion required to create something, it’s definitely not straightforward!
Entrepreneurial skills
Of all the Seven Skills of an Entrepreneurial Mindset, I believe I’ve developed ‘Commit to Growth’ the most. We regularly share ideas with other members of the programme and give each other feedback. This experience of taking on other peoples’ views has really helped me to grow and see my idea differently. It has helped me to learn and adapt. I believe this will be a great help in my future career too, as you’ll always have people giving you feedback and making suggestions for how you can improve, and it’s up to you to take that onboard and do better.
Top tips
If you have an idea and don’t know where to start or what to do with it, I’d suggest first doing some research. Doing research won’t cause any risks for you, but it will help you to validate your idea and help you grow in confidence. This provides value in the long run before you decide to take even bigger risks with your idea.