A fellow Aussie joins me on this episode. She has been making waves for years now, from working over in Vietnam, India and Kenya on giveback projects, to founding her own passion project, Sonder Youth. She is a woman on a mission to empower people to follow their dreams and to be the change makers that they were born to be!
We talk about how Av was inspired by her travels to live simply and go on to build a tiny house; how she lived in Vietnam and was able to connect on another level with a community there; and what India is like when you rely on a Lonely Planet guide book.
Having always been obsessed with travel, she took what savings she had and backpacked for several months. All this travel allowed Av to think bigger than just her little bubble and it has led to her doing incredible, inspiring things.
The word ‘Sonder’ was inspired by a text she got from someone who she met while travelling and it really hit home for her. From that, it sparked a desire to build changemakers from as young as possible through international travel and local education programs. Sonder Youth provides a platform for people to step up and do that thing that they’re passionate about and really look at the potential they have for impact (26:34).
Tune in to hear all about these projects and how she got to where she is now.
Some take home words from the show
“India is the most vibrant piece of humanity I have come across. There is so much light and flavour and colour. It's just so welcoming. It smacks you in the face at first, but then it holds onto you and never lets go”
“ I have always found that seeing people in their own environment, living in completely different circumstances to my own, whether it is living situation or family situation or how the community operates, it made me want to live differently to the way we grow up here… or at least know that there are other options.”
“People who see something wrong and do something about it. I was always so inspired by these people who would step up and do the thing…. I wanted to ignite that passion and give people a platform to do that thing, surrounded by a community of change makers.”
We live in and build a tiny house - 3:20
How travel can teach you that there are other ways to live - 4:10
How to live off grid - 4:20
Immersing yourself into a foriegn community - 14:20
What’s it like living in India - 16:00
Using the Lonely Planet to travel in India 16:45
How travel experiences have molded her life and career 21:53
What does Sonder mean - 24:09
Sonder Youth is a change maker program for young people who have something that they are passionate about and something that they want to see changed in the world - 26:34
Avalon’s closing 30 seconds of advise - 34:10
Find Avalon Bourne here - https://www.instagram.com/avalon.hope/
Sonder Youth’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sonder.youth/
Sonder Youth Website - https://www.sonderyouth.com/