There are some fantastic organisations out there, who see a need, but then get extremely creative in how they can support or fix the problem. Happily Made, is definitely one of them. For this unique company it is about the importance of ethical consumerism.
Their philosophy is not about funding a charity or donating money for aide, it’s about creating an income source to give women in Cambodia a brighter future for their children through employment.
Veronica, the founder of Happily Made and now based in Melbourne, lived in a village in rural Cambodia for two and a half years where she was overcome by the level of poverty among the women of the area. Knowing she wanted to do something to help, that was long term and sustainable she sought advice from others who had the same passion. Then one day while riding in the back of a tuk tuk, she came up with the idea, happily made monkey.
Fast forward to today, and that little monkey with two magnets is travelling the world. A hit on social media and delivering a message of success. Incredibly, there are now over 120 women knitting the monkeys. Thanks to the Sleepy Snoogus range growth has meant that Happily Made now also, have a scholarship fund for our knitter’s children to go to school.
An ethical, environmental business that supports is workers and their families. Brilliant!
The Happily Made knitters have an income, their children can now go to school and have a chance to finally break out of the poverty cycle.
Who knew that this little brown monkey with his magnetic hands would become such a hit? Not only is he loved by people of all ages but he has now become a popular travel companion and I get to see photos of the HM monkeys having adventures all around the globe!
The message from Happily Made – It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed by the poverty in developing countries and allow it to paralyse us. But we can’t let that stop us.
With a main message that people don’t need our aid or our charity, what they need is our business, you can rest assured that when we buy a Happily Made products we are empowering women and our purchases impacts an entire family which in turn transforms the community.
Want to know more about this truly fantastic group? Visit www.happilymade.com.au
But to really follow what that lovely little monkey and his friends get up to – Facebook is the place.
Happily Made, is not a client of C4MG, but definitely an organisation we admire.