TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,

Everyone has said so much about Karla Darocas. What can I add to the long list of attributes, skills and talents? I agree with each and every word that has been said.

I have found Karla smart, organized, available, prolific, sensitive, willing and very energetic and what I think that this aspect - is one of her most important characteristics. She has real vision.

However, what I love most about Karla is her incredible courage and immense generosity. I feel that we live in a society dominated by men who for centuries have hung on to knowledge and succeeded in disempowering women throughout the ages. Men have done such an effective job that they have left almost half of their own species in ignorance, as second-class citizens and certainly at a huge disadvantage within the global economic pie. Men and society do this via a well-studied and observed sociological and economical phenomenon, part of which is acquiring and retaining the power and keeping their skills and expertise a close-guarded secret. The consequence of living in a male-centred society and a male-respected environment means that not only do men maintain society’s imbalance, sadly women also uphold the same society’s values and ideas.

As I was saying, the thing I love most about Karla is her generosity and sharing, not part, not segments or fragments, but ALL of her knowledge, expertise, understanding and skills that she has spent many hours researching and learning. And I love her courage. She is not afraid of letting go of that knowledge. She is not worried that by sharing her skills, this may in some way impoverish her. Karla is not terrified of letting others learn. Karla positively encourages, and in fact insists, that other women and I empower ourselves and gain knowledge in the face of a constantly oppressive society.

Additionally she is an excellent teacher and has taught me more in a few brief hours than I could have learnt over months on the internet. Whatever she tells me is backed up with hours of research. She never misleads nor muddles me. She is always helpful between our sessions and she is forward-looking.

She is ingenuous and I thank her and recommend her to anyone who is thinking about having classes. Start now – I wish I had started earlier. She has an enormous amount of knowledge and experience, plenty of patience and a whole heap to give.

Tracy Bottomley