SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR

Inside Iniala's four luxury villas, which have become a celebrity magnet in Thailand

direct to charity, it would be a fortune." “The whole idea was absolute madness,” he says. “I love hotels and I wanted to create something different and exciting. It is a The foundation is dedicated to funding and supporting beautiful project that is full of life and vitality.” projects in health and education for marginalised communities in Since then, the property has become one of Thailand’s most Thailand, Indonesia, India and Malta. It supports organisations sought-after hotels, with celebrities including financially and offers advice on how to make the Kardashians flocking to stay in one of its communities become more sustainable. Some four private villas, which costs on average up to of its latest projects have included helping “I want people to children with cerebral palsy, elderly stroke $2,000 per night. Although Iniala is a business understand that if venture for Weingard, it has a charitable arm victims and those in need of prosthetic limbs. Weingard says he never imagined being in a which extends to helping fund projects in they give just one per position to help people. “I did not come from education, health and rehabilitation. Five per cent of their revenue a wealthy family. My father was a cab driver. cent of revenue from Iniala (amounting to approximately $1 million per year) is donated I was a fairly normal kid who had fun with direct to charity, it to the Inspirasia foundation. his friends. At the age of 18, I had never even would be a fortune” opened a champagne bottle,” he says. “The foundation is the thing I am most proud of in my life,” he says. “Philanthropy is Weingard left his home in the UK at the a strange word. It is about helping and looking age of 20 and is confident he will never return for the root of problems rather than just giving. permanently. Today home is in the city of I want to teach people and be an inspiration. I want people to Valletta in Malta, where he hopes to become a citizen. He says understand that if they give just one per cent of their revenue he is on a mission to make Valletta “a world-class destination

2016 MAY / JUNE

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