‘You don’t have to fit in the box’: Q+A with youth leader Nadia Manning-Thomas

This article posts during GLF 2014. See in English | Espanol
Nadia Manning-Thomas of Danaqa World Chic at the GLF in Warsaw 2013.
Nadia Manning-Thomas of Danaqa World Chic at the GLF in Warsaw 2013.

Submitted by Nadia Manning Thomas

After spending many years working as a knowledge-sharing specialist in developing countries and being moved by the small-scale producers she met, Nadia Manning Thomas (@Bajan_Nads) felt inspired to open a personal and household accessories retail shop with her husband.

Danaqa World Chic combines a unique commercial approach to sustainable development that links quality products made in developing countries with customers in Europe.

At the Global Landscapes Forum’s youth session in Warsaw 2013, Nadia shared the personal stories of some of her suppliers (often young people) as well as the lessons she learned in ‘daring to be different’.

Ahead of the youth activities at December’s Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) in Peru, which will focus on building youth skills and knowledge to become leaders and effectively contribute to discussions, we catch up with Nadia to find out how her career path has changed and her advice for upcoming youth leaders and participants in the 2014 GLF.

Register to attend the 2014 youth session here.

This is the first of a blog series profiling youth leadership in landscapes. Tell us your youth story – submit blogs to landscapes.youth@gmail.com

Listen to this as a podcast:

Read other blogposts by Nadia:

Learning to change course: Adaptation in my ‘river of life’