About Us
Our Vision
Spirit & Soul aims to be a New Zealand wide organisation which empowers young women to be the best that they can be. We aim to break barriers in not only the minds of young women but in the general public’s minds too, so that they are able to make their mark in society that they deserve. We will do this through a social enterprise model, bringing together the spirit and soul of the organisation. We will achieve this goal by hosting events and workshops with the goal of opening young women’s minds and boosting their confidence! The spirit of the young women of today who will carve out the future of our planet will ensure that the human race will forever thrive, and every living soul will be able to express themselves in whichever way they wish, whether they be female or male, that is what will keep Spirit & Soul alive.
That is Spirit & Soul’s vision of success!
More about Spirit & Soul
The idea came about when our founder, Jaskiran went to her first coding holiday programme at a young age and was the only female there. She felt uncomfortable in this situation and didn’t want other young women to feel this way! Her vision of Spirit & Soul started off as just a dream which she entered into ‘Dream Bank’ - an initiative run by the Sir Peter Blake Trust and Westpac. To her surprise, her dream was recognised, and Westpac took her to the 2017 Women of Influence Forum where she promised the audience of more than 600 women that she would take the inspiration she gained from the forum to inspire others, she said “I want to be inspired so that I can go on to inspire others”. Spirit & Soul developed their first event, fulfilling her promise, which was titled ‘When I Was Young’ and was held in Te Papa in early 2018. Following this, Jaskiran was invited to speak at the Women of Influence Forum in 2018 after which Spirit & Soul hosted its second event – Who am I & Who are You - at the Xero office in Wellington which greeted just under 100, girls, parents and female role models. This event was focused on giving young women aged 10-15 a taste of different subject, career and life choices at the age when they start choosing their subjects at school rather than just before university. Spirit & Soul is now planning its next event on the 14th of September which will be centred around ‘Life Skills’ that girls usually wouldn’t be taught, some of which will include: how to use hand and power tools; how to change a tyre; and basic financial literacy. Spirit & Soul is expecting around 80 girls there as well as female role models representing each life skill!”
Press, Awards and Speaking Engagements
Press
Jun 2019
Eleven-year-old starts company to empower other young girls
Jun 2018
Year 7 student creates organisation to empower young women
July 2018
How to inspire the next generation of ICT leaders
August 2018
Empowering girls to be the best they can be
Sept 2018
Spirit & Soul: Encouraging young women into STEM
Dec 2018
11 years old and already a Woman of Influence
Sept 2017
Xero blog: Spirit & Soul - Encouraging young women into STEM
Nov 2018
School girl wants to raise female participation in coding
Sept 2017
Women of Influence Forum Significance in leadership
Sept 2017
Sept 2017
Speaking Engagements
Sept 2018
Aug 2018
Women of Westpac Event
Jun 2018