E4 - Transforming Education with Recycled Plastic with Nicola Courtin of Classroom of Hope

In this episode of the Business Benchmark Group podcast, host Stefan Kazakis welcomes Nicola Curtin, co-founder and creative director of Classroom of Hope. They discuss the impactful work of Classroom of Hope, an Australian non-profit that builds sustainable schools and homes in developing countries using recycled plastic waste. Nicola shares her journey, the challenges of running a non-profit, and the incredible impact their work has had, especially in areas like Lombok, Indonesia, following the devastating 2018 earthquakes. They touch on topics like the importance of transparency in donor relations, the power of education, and Nicola's personal motivations and inspirations. Nicola also reflects on her academic background in sociocultural anthropology and journalism, which shapes her approach to storytelling and cultural understanding in her work. 00:00 Introduction to Business Benchmark Group 00:42 Meet Nicola Curtin: Co-Founder of Classroom of Hope 02:25 A Day in the Life of Nicola Curtin 04:26 The Story Behind Classroom of Hope 05:08 Impact and Innovations in Education 09:40 Personal Insights and Reflections 14:49 Future Goals and Legacy 17:18 Advice and Life Lessons 22:16 Dream Projects and Socio-Cultural Anthropology 29:26 Dinner Party Guests and Financial Decisions 33:02 Final Thoughts and Gratitude