I recently had the pleasure of hearing from four inspirational women who have studied at Goldsmiths.
Each has been supported by the College’s long-running partnership with Santander Universities, which has provided £750,000 of funding to 775 Goldsmiths students since it was set up in 2012.
Our meeting fell during Women’s History Month, a fitting time for us to speak given the incredible things these four women are doing to support others in creative ways. I wanted to share a little about Carly, Becky, Sara and Malikah, who I found so inspiring to speak to.
Carly Attridge is Founding Director of The Loss Project, an organisation connecting people in communities through their shared experiences of grief, loss and trauma. We’re also lucky to have her as an entrepreneur in residence at Goldsmiths, following her completion of an MA in social entrepreneurship at Goldsmiths last year. Carly’s work is needed more than ever, as communities across the country emerge from the period of intense loss we have all experienced in some way during the pandemic.
Becky Gove is another Goldsmiths alumna from our MA in social entrepreneurship. Santander funding supported Becky to set up Grounders, an innovative project exploring the potential for young people to take on agricultural labour roles in the UK, easing shortages that have occurred in this sector. The project looked at how young people could learn while working, discovering more about the food system and learning key skills such as team building.
Sara dos Santos is a choreographer, movement director and cultural producer, and an alumna of the Goldsmiths MA in Cultural Policy, Relations and Diplomacy. Sara is known for using varied dance styles in her choreography, weaving in a range of cultural influences and international experiences to tell stories and explore social and political issues. It’s clear that Sara’s choreography provides an important space for self-expression, and I know how much this matters for young people in particular.
Girls In Front project, Croydon, 2019 – featuring Sara dos Santos
Malikah Ullah is studying for a BSc in Psychology at Goldsmiths. Funding from Santander allowed Malikah to undertake an internship supporting at-risk children in the Crossroads township in Cape Town, South Africa. Through this remote internship, Malikah produced resources for a girls’ programme aimed at tackling issues around bullying, sexual health and careers.
I’m proud to see these compassionate and determined Goldsmiths students and alumni using their talent and creativity to support people across society. I’m also incredibly grateful for the continued support of Santander Universities.
Find out more:
Malikah Ullah
The Loss Project
Sara dos Santos
Grounders
