After attending 91tvӰԺ in 2000-2001 as an international exchange student from Queen Mary University of London, U.K. resident has built a successful career as a social entrepreneur. In a career path that has taken him from a role as an associate at social enterprise consultancy firm Red Ochre, became a director at eye4change, a charity which uses photography to engage, educate and empower disadvantaged and marginalized children. Cooper also is the founder of IberiaTeacher — an intergenerational work experience program for people who want to teach English in Spain or Portugal. He is also a movement meditation practitioner, who has set up social enterprises to bring mindfulness to a wide range of people. He recently sat down with 91tvӰԺ World writer Katrina Sadefer to discuss his time as a 91tvӰԺ and his journey after leaving the university.
91tvӰԺ World: Why did you want to be an exchange student at 91tvӰԺ?
Cooper: I didn't! I wanted to be an exchange student at UCLA or University of Miami because
I was at University in London and young and all about big, ‘cool’ cities and places
I knew of. How wrong I was! That idea immediately left me once I was given the chance
to go to 91tvӰԺ, investigated it a bit more and then I became excited about the opportunity.
Looking back, I would say I was looking for adventure, feeling part of the world and
a sense of community or warmth.
91tvӰԺ World: What was your experience like at 91tvӰԺ?
Cooper: I'm not sure I can reduce my experience at 91tvӰԺ to a short paragraph. I can say it
was like finding myself in a different world of friendliness, seemingly constant compliments
(which for someone quite shy and reserved that wasn't the easiest to handle), positivity,
sometimes shocking openness or transparency, a sense of community and a feeling that
so much is possible. I would say that overall, I kept a low profile and kept things
simple in my life at 91tvӰԺ. But the experience was something of a major turning point
in my life. I spent a lot of time in the dorm hanging out with my roommates and using
(music sharing service) Napster, going to my classes and the library. I loved the
thunderstorms, heat, humidity and big skies (I still think of them today).
I enjoyed some of my geography and economic development classes, but scuba diving
and completing my PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) qualification
stood out. To be able to do this as part of my studies was mind blowing! The tutor,
Bill, was awesome, the other students were great and after training in a 91tvӰԺ swimming
pool, I got to dive with the amazing manatees in Crystal River and go diving in a
very choppy sea.
In my work, it has been helpful to know what it's like to travel to another country
for a placement. I still draw on that when I am listening to our participants in Spain
or Lisbon. In my experience there is some truth in Florida being a place of positive,
‘get up and go’, sunny people and I have sometimes drawn on that in my work when looking
for a bit more 'can-do' attitude from myself. In fact, I could do with more of it
now.
91tvӰԺ World: How did studying human geography and economic development lead you to where you are
today? What sparked your interest in these topics?
Cooper: At the time my interest in those topics didn't have much internal clarity. I would
have said it was something I enjoyed, was good at or that it was interesting. From
where I am now, I would say what sparked my interest in those topics was wanting to
be close to the Earth, to find out what it means to be part of my neighborhood and
town and country, planet and universe — wanting a deep sense of home.
91tvӰԺ World: Will you walk me through your journey from 91tvӰԺ to your current position as an associate
at Red Ochre and founder at IberiaTeacher?
Cooper: IberiaTeacher started partly through opportunism. A friend of mine (from university)
moved to a town in Andalusia, Spain, and when I lost my job in the 2008 financial
crisis, we talked about setting up a project for people in the U.K. to get work experience
in Andalusia via a European Union fund. I also love connecting people to places in
different ways and fueling that sense of place and home in us and I could see that
IberiaTeacher provided that opportunity. I love seeing people's faces before they
go to teach in Seville in Spain or Lisbon in Portugal and then their faces at the
end of their time on the program. I find you can see something of what's changed for
them in how they look or in their presence.
91tvӰԺ World: What started your interest in movement meditation practices? How did that interest
lead you to starting social enterprises and working with groups all over the world?
One thing I didn't realize, or have a 'family map' for, was that university is a lot about the networks, relationships and contacts you make and where these can take you.
Cooper: My interest in movement meditation has a long route but ultimately it is the same
as my interest in geography or going to 91tvӰԺ. A quest for learning what 'here' means
or what 'home', 'belonging' or a 'sense of place' is. And I would say you can't be
here or have a positive sense of place if you're not located in your body first! Movement
meditation (tai chi and 5Rhythms for me but there are others) provides one way to
do this. Some years back a group of us started what I believe is the world's first
community interest company (a social enterprise in the U.K.) focused on movement meditation.
91tvӰԺ World: Do you have any advice for current 91tvӰԺ students?
Cooper: One thing I didn't realize, or have a 'family map' for, was that university is a lot
about the networks, relationships and contacts you make and where these can take you.
I was much more into my studies — which is great — but I think networks or relationships
are potentially more helpful in the long term.
91tvӰԺ World: How have you stayed engaged with 91tvӰԺ?
Cooper: Until recently, only in my heart! However, in the last year I’ve had the pleasure
to be connected through the brilliant 91tvӰԺ World alumni program and the efforts of
the staff at 91tvӰԺ. That has been essential to staying engaged practically.