What if a simple act like teaching someone to cook could change a life? Sarah Abdoo’s journey took her from Oxford to a women’s shelter in Bolivia—where an idea to help survivors of sexual violence regain purpose through teaching others sparked a powerful movement. In this TEDx talk, Sarah explores how community, purpose, and hands-on skills became tools for healing, dignity, and long-term empowerment. Sarah Abdoo is the founder of a NGO that helps women who experienced sexual violence in Bolivia. She grew up in London and went to boarding school from middle school on. After finishing her studies in Psychology and Philosophy in Oxford, she started traveling in South America where she volunteered in a women’s shelter. There she got the idea to empower the women by giving them the opportunity to teach others how to cook. Thereby, she gave them a purpose and a sense of achievement. The organization quickly grew with a variety of activities, helping the women to get their life back. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx