During her gap year in 1994, Winky began teaching and living in the local community of Kiminini, Kenya. Since then, she has been determined to improve education and raise living standards across the country.

Alongside co-founder Will Travers OBE, a renowned wildlife expert, Winky set up The Hummingbird Initiative to empower communities and alleviate poverty through education.

Presently, The Hummingbird Initiative works closely with the 19 villages of the Kanjoo sub-location to find local solutions, taking environmental factors into account, and supporting projects that are sustained and maintained by the community themselves, to ensure lasting impact. They focus on the interconnectedness of infrastructure, economy, healthcare and education, creating a ripple effect in community development that leads to long-term poverty alleviation across a greater area.

So far, over 3,000 pupils have benefitted from educational development, 963 farms now have a constant supply of water for irrigation, promoting water conservation and agricultural diversification, and 25% of inhabitants have water piped to their homes. The Hummingbird Initiative focuses on developing school infrastructure – classrooms, playgrounds, toilets and washing facilities – whilst enabling access to basic amenities, water infrastructure, economic empowerment and much more in the Meru District of Kenya.

Through unwavering dedication, Winky has worked tirelessly to turn her dream into a reality.

thehummingbirdinitiative.org

Read more about our other inspiring alumnae in our latest Cloisters magazine