Sparkly and SmART
Sparkly Art. Smart Girls.
Sparkly and SmART
is a social enterprise, crafted with love and fuelled by purpose. It centres around handmade joyful art, brought to a line of cheerful paper and textile goods. All proceeds from sales of these goods are directly funnelled into sustainable initiatives that advance girls' educational opportunities in Africa, by reducing barriers that stand in their way.
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And, I'm Sofie, the architect, artist and girls' education ambassador of Sparkly and SmART :) I live and study in Vancouver, Canada. Having the opportunity to chase my dreams, by making art that both makes people smile and powers important projects that help make it easier for girls across the world to chase their dreams, is my greatest privilege. The girls I have been fortunate enough to spend time with are a constant source of inspiration to me. I hope one day to be architect, whose life work resides at the intersection of art and math and science, to solve challenging problems in places where solutions are needed most.
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Thank you for exploring Sparkly and SmART. Your interest and support means the world to me!
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Sofie
Investment in girls' education may well be the highest return investment in the developing world.
- Lawrence Summers, WORLD BANK
STEAM education
Baphumelele and BloomBox Learning Labs
We are proud to have had the awesome opportunity of bringing a computer lab to Baphumelele Children's Home, in the heart of Khayelitsha Township, in Cape Town, South Africa! It has been put to great use for a number of years now. Basic computing skills and STEAM-centred content is taught year round, by university student volunteers, to all middle school and high school aged children residing there. We have made sure to maintain the technology and connectivity as needed with regular visits, and ensure that girls receive equal access and teaching.
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Full STEAM ahead for our super-charged current initiative - the creation and implementation of BloomBoxes - solar-powered technology learning labs, from repurposed shipping containers! The first one was designed, built, and set up at New Beginnings Secondary School, in Blantyre, Malawi in July of 2021. A second one followed in July of 2022, in the beautiful remote village of Mulanje, Malawi, and our third (and most efficient design yet) proudly stands in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp, in central Malawi, as of July 2023. Now, over five thousand students and staff have daily access to digital educational resources for the first time! And, plans for more BloomBoxes are already under way! Please check out the
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website for more information!
Action
Remove barriers standing in the way
of educating girls
132 million girls around the world are not in school.
With the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
serving as a guide to action, Sparkly and SmART
focuses its efforts on improving girls' education
through supporting and leading targeted, sustainable initiatives to improve access to clean water, access to proper menstrual hygiene, and access to technology-driven STEAM learning opportunities, for girls in low-resource settings in rural and urban communities in Malawi and South Africa.
Thank you so much for your interest!
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If you have any questions about my art or the projects it propels, or if you just want to say hello, I would be so excited to speak with you!
Please complete this form and I will get back to you straight away,
Sofie
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