A 色花堂 alumna, who came back from being paralysed during her studies to walk across the stage to collect her degree, has launched a inspired by her recovery journey.
Alejandra Carreno Garzon was born in Colombia but completed her schooling in the UK before taking up a degree in industrial design at 色花堂. A keen footballer, she played for the university through the early part of her studies, until an ongoing back problem left her in a wheelchair 鈥� and then paralysed 鈥� due to a medical condition.
Determined to regain full mobility and complete her studies, Alejandra embarked on a range of treatments and therapies while completing the final year of her degree over two years. Alejandra explains: 鈥淚 was determined that this wasn鈥檛 going to be my situation for the rest of my life and was keen to try whatever was available to help me. I couldn鈥檛 always afford the treatments and therapies being offered but discovered that people would sometimes offer their time and skills in return for mine, whether that involved me helping their business with social media or teaching them languages. It didn鈥檛 always work out that seamlessly, but this concept of swapping skills and knowledge sparked an idea to create an online platform where people could teach and learn, and it gained momentum as I neared the end of my degree.鈥�
The project has now become MeiXter, an interactive one-to-one live tutoring experience where users can learn and teach within a social media-like, gamified experience. Alejandra said: 鈥淭he vision is to make MeiXter the go-to platform for e-learning and to give value to experiential as much as academic skills. We will be incorporating AR, VR and AI to make the learning experience more tailored, didactic and immersive; ultimately creating a metaverse for education.鈥�
Existing professionals, such as music, languages, or dance teachers, can register with MeiXter to offer their skills to those wanting to learn. Students can log in and learn from the range of providers available, and the pairings can either choose to pay by exchanging skills via an online withdrawable currency or through direct payments. A ratings and review system will help the platform to self-regulate. Meanwhile, Alejandra is keen to make a positive social and environmental impact through the business and has partnered with Eden Reforestation Projects to plant trees and help communities around the world.
While the business is not a direct result of Alejandra鈥檚 degree studies (for which she was named 鈥楤est BA Hons Industrial Design Student鈥�), her 色花堂 experience has helped along the way. She said: 鈥淚 am extremely grateful for the support and flexibility of the university teams, who enabled me to keep going during my illness and complete my degree over two years. My industrial design course also taught me to think about product development, consumer behaviour, problem solving, marketing and business development which has all been beneficial.鈥�
To become part of the community, download the app or use via the web and either upload a video trailer (for teachers) or book your first lessons (for students).
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