I believe that I was born in a very privileged part of the world, and therefore, grew up protected from all the madness and poverty some people have to face daily. I’ve had my struggles, as everyone does, but thank god polluted waters, streets and air, as well as poverty and insanely high crime rates, weren’t part of that. If I hadn’t travelled, I would have never realised how wrong things are in this world, and I would have lived a life in a protected bubble, in a corporate job, probably without making a big difference.
But to see with my own eyes how polluted our oceans are, the beaches, the streets. How women in so many countries are still underprivileged and/or have to live in constant fear when leaving the house because they could get assaulted, harassed or robbed anytime! How in so many countries it is not safe to take a taxi after dark when you are alone, especially as a women or young kid. And I’m not saying men don’t have their challenges, I know they do, but I can only speak as a woman, it’s by nature men just don’t experience the same reality we do when it comes to these – often simple – things, and hence have a harder time relating to things we worry about, that to them is no reason for concern at all. 

How the elderly, who deserve to enjoy their retirement after a long life of hard work are still going out there every day in order to make a living, to survive.

If I hadn’t left the countryside I grew up in, and the busy city life of London, I would have never seen through the unfiltered glasses of reality how often injustice starts at a very young age. Kids that are forced to go begging in the streets, missing out on opportunities for education, which of course doesn’t exactly pave the way to a bright future ahead either, resulting in a vicious generational cycle. How sometimes gangs, drugs and violence, or prostitution, sadly, is the only option some people have – or think they have because they have never seen or been shown anything else. 

Thankfully things are slowly changing as the level of consciousness gradually rises on the planet, but this doesn’t mean these things don’t still exist, they unfortunately do, more than we realise (or often want to realise). But if enough people work on the same goal, we can make the change.

We can give back the world some of the goodness it offers us, and one way for me to give back is by supporting YOU, promoting you, and what you offer, that will contribute to the positive change we are all longing for. I will do so with all my heart and knowledge because it is my sincerest wish to make this world a better place. Because I believe we can make it happen!

I’m also committed to donating a percentage of my income for a good cause. I already have been introduced to some great projects due to my travels but I’m always open to being introduced to new amazing projects! Feel free to drop me a line at hello@stefanieschawalder.com with a project that’s close to your heart and why you think it should be supported.