Exceptional Lives
Newsbytes: Check out Clare Mulvany's global journey to interview people who change the world!
Clare Mulvany is currently 5 months into a 10 month global journey on which she has been interviewing 'social entrepreneurs', or 'people who change our world' about their life stories. She has travelled through Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa, and has just completed the India leg of her trip. Next leg, South East Asia. She is blogging as she travels on www.exceptional-lives.blogspot.com
Talking to Clare:
Q. What have you found out about the people you've been profiling and what common bond do they have that you think makes them social entrepreneurs? What are their biggest inspirations, their biggest challenges? Maybe you have an anecdote or two that could sum up the people you've met on the first leg of your journey to Africa?
Mulvany: Well one thing is that wherever one travels, there are amazing people working for social change; people who care about the bigger picture, and who are committed to making visions happen. They are open, optimistic, and very very persistent. Many are stubborn and will tackle obstacles knowing there will always be a way around them. Most are driven by values; values of justice, integrity, honesty, trust. Their leadership skills are tuned over time, but empathy is generally a given. Interestingly, many have had a serious incident or trauma in their early lives which has driven them to live life more fully- an illness, a death in the family, or even the experience of being an 'outsider' in their own or another community, an experience which has lent momentum to their missions. And all have been remarkably welcoming.
Q. What have you learned during these first few months of your journey that you didn't expect or imagine?
Mulvany: Anyone travelling alone has to rely on their own resources, which often are deeper and richer than expected. I have surprised myself at times with how I have had to delve into those resources, and accept and respond to challenges. I've been learning to trust more and more; in gut instinct, in connections, in networks, in contacts- and to be open to opportunities. When doing a journey like this, you have to be proactive, seeking out new people, experiences, stories. Thinking ahead... but you also have to learn to go with the flow, live the moment, then to pause, and take in what is happening around you. I've been learning how to manage all this; keeping the right pace, and listening to myself when I need to be on the move again, or equally just when I need to stop and reflect.
Q. What problems or challenges have you had travelling around the African continent?
Mulvany: Not that many! There have been the inevitable travel hassles- buses breaking down, bags lost, travel delays. But you can't expect to travel without some of those things happening. It is part of the package. Sometimes arriving in a new place alone can be a bit daunting, but what is new soon becomes familiar. Being on the move a lot can be tiring, but again, I learn to manage that by taking some time out, and reflecting.
There were challenges before I headed off; trying to rally support and finance. I think often people only want to support successful projects- so the early stages can be tough, convincing people that you are doing it for the right reason, and committed to the results. This is common to a lot of the people I have interviewed! There will always be people who doubt, but you cannot let that stop you.
For a full view of Clare's thoughts on how her the first part of her journey in Africa went, see her blog on www.exceptional-lives.blogspot.com
The opinions of writers featured on SpunOut.ie do not necessarily reflect the views of the SpunOut.ie team or those of Community Creations. We try to give everyone a chance to have their opinions heard but we are not responsible for inaccuracies contained within these.
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