A WOMAN from Bournemouth left paralysed following an ongoing back problem has used her recovery journey as inspiration for a new business.

Former Bournemouth University student Alejandra Carreno Garzon, 26, launched online learning platform MeiXter after she was forced into a wheelchair due to back problems.

The Colombian-born industrial design student was playing football for her university team but an ongoing back problem forced her into a wheelchair and then left her paralysed.

Ms Garzon said: “I was determined that this wasn’t going to be my situation for the rest of my life and was keen to try whatever was available to help me.

“I couldn’t always afford the treatments and therapies but offered my skills and time such as helping their business with social media or teaching languages in return for their help.

“To my surprise, therapies and others said yes, because they saw the benefit for them and thankfully, as they put it, saw my determination to get better.”

It was then that she realised people would offer their time and skills in return for hers, and then stemmed her idea to create an online platform where people could teach and learn. Her website gained traction towards the end of her degree.

Ms Garzon’s project is an interactive one-to-one live tutoring platform. Users can learn and teach within a 'social media-like, gamified experience'.

The site allows existing professional teachers, including those teaching dance, languages or music, to sign up to offer their skills to those wanting to learn. Students can also sign up and pick the course they want to do. The platform is self-regulated through a ratings and review system.

While her business is not a direct result of her degree, the support from the university helped her a lot.

She said: “I am extremely grateful for the support and flexibility of the university teams, who enabled me to keep going during my illness and complete my degree over two years.”

Ms Garzon also wants to make a positive environmental impact through the business by partnering with Eden Reforestation Projects to plant trees and help communities around the world.