Testimonials

"I only wish I had been given the opportunity to take part in the SEP when I was at school."

Lewis Moody, (England and British Lions Rugby Team)

HOPEHIV believes passionately in the Social Entrepreneurs Project (SEP), not only as a mechanism for investing in the African orphan generation, but also as a means of stimulating the hearts and minds of young people across the UK. Yet we are not the only ones who feel like this. Let us introduce you to some other people who believe equally in the importance of the SEP.

Lewis Moody

World Cup winner and England Rugby Union star, Lewis Moody, is a Patron of the SEP. A keen supporter of the cause, he was also drawn to the project by the opportunities that it provides for school pupils. As he explains:

"Not only is it a brilliant opportunity to learn, it truly inspires passion, commitment, team-work and dedication, all of which are key to success in my profession and indeed in all walks of life."

Karen Millen is the founder of a clothing retail chain that now has over 75 UK outlets and is estimated to turnover £100 million per year. Clare Connor is the former Women's England Cricket Captain. Both have achieved great success in their respective fields, yet this is not where the similarities end. Both Karen and Clare have travelled to sub-Saharan Africa, experienced the plight of the millions of orphaned children and have seen first-hand how the donations raised by the SEP can make a real difference.

Lewis Moody

Clare recalls that her abiding memory of her African trip was not of seeing children having to play barefoot on scrubland littered with glass, but of these same children "wearing smiles in place of shoes". Clare has since become a Patron of the SEP, believing passionately in its ideals and the impact that it can make to the lives of others. In her own words:

"I would urge any school to get involved in the SEP and help to put even bigger smiles on these children's faces."

This sentiment is echoed by Karen Millen whose experience in Africa and personal involvement in the SEP places her in an excellent position to assess the project's impact both at home and abroad. And her view is:

".I can recommend the scheme as a great way of learning and developing new skills, whilst at the same time helping to make a difference in the lives of some of the world's most disadvantaged children."

Yet the success of the SEP project ultimately depends upon the social entrepreneurs themselves. So what do they think of the project?

We spoke to Tom, social entrepreneur and pupil of Sutton Valence School in Maidstone. Tom, used his £10 'seed capital' to run a number of business projects that raised over £700 for HOPEHIV. When asked what made the SEP such a great experience, he said:

"It was great to be given real responsibility and the thought that my ideas and actions would make a real difference to the lives of children in Africa really motivated me right to the end."

We also asked fellow social entrepreneur Ben, about his views on the SEP. Ben, who combines the roles of philanthropic entrepreneur with that of being a pupil at Lingfield Notre Dame School, was part of a team of three that cornered the personalised wrist band and popcorn markets during their SEP project - making over £400 profit for HOPEHIV. Ben relished the creative opportunities afforded by the SEP as well as the confidence that he gained from his success. Best of all though, as Ben himself says:

"We learned how to have fun in a constructive way, while also raising money for an excellent cause."
So sign your school up to the SEP today and provide your pupils with the opportunity to make decisions that really matter and raise money that will really make a difference to the lives of others.