With a lot of commitment, Summum has created an additional capsule collection for orange babies, especially for the “Stand Up for Girls” project.
For each part sold from this collection, Summum donates an amount to the project that supports endangered girls in southern Africa through education, security and future prospects.
‘It just has to match perfectly’
Inge Veldt, initiator of special cooperation between summum and orange babies, thought that, and she was right. Why? This shows the open conversation between the Summum founder Jories WijkerOrange Babies managing director Fiona Heringthe committed initiator Inge Veldt and Beatha Iilekaformer participant of the “Stand Up for Girls” program. In the creative room where in Bergen, they come together to discuss the development of collections and share their personal motivations. A conversation about creativity, social commitment and the power of education.
‘What is a matter of course for us is not for these girls’
Jories: “Fiona, how did you get to orange babies?” “What makes the project ‘Stand Up for Girls’ so important for you?”
Fiona: “I was with the founder: on the inside and heard the heartbreaking story of a young woman at an event that lost her child unnecessarily. Then I decided that I also wanted to help. In the meantime, I work with pride and see how effective the money is being used. We achieve a lot with a few means. ‘Stand up for girls’ is essential: Girl in sambia and Namibia. Education.”
Jories: “That’s how it is. The foundation has to be right: eating, security and education are necessary to be able to make something out of a life. What is a matter of course for us is rare for these girls. It is great that you do.”
‘Education is the key to a better life’
Jories: “Can you tell a little more about your work with ‘Stand Up for Girls’?”
Fiona: “Orange babies tries to reduce HIV infections in women and babies. With ‘Stand Up for Girls’ we focus on girls in Namibia, Sambia and South Africa. Education is crucial: girls with an apprenticeship have a 50 percent lower risk of HIV. But gender relief, sexual violence, lack of health care and a lack of education are difficult. You pay off, pay school fees and uniforms, help with psychosocial care and provide daily diet. ”
Fiona: “Beatha, you were part of this program yourself. Can you tell us about it?”
Beatha: “I am 25 years old and grew up in a poor quarter in Windhoek, Namibia, together with my mother. When the circumstances deteriorated, my mother was looking for help at Orange Babies. From my eighth year of life, they took over my school fees and the costs for my uniform. Thanks to their support, I managed my school leaving certificate and later a bachelor in accounting. ‘United Youth Charity Association’, with which we have already helped over a hundred young people.
Fiona: “You have gone through difficult times. What gave you the strength to continue, to be strong and look ahead?”
Beatha: “I have a strong spiritual attitude. I decided that I wanted to help others never feel a feeling of hopelessness. Now I have a community of people who believe in me, also thanks to safe places such as those of orange babies. This motivates me to show others: You are not alone, it will be good.”
Connect, Inspire, Create
Fiona: “Jories, what motivated you to support our project?”
Jories: “I was addressed by Inge, my former personal assistant, who founded the creative room where where.”
Inge: “During a trip around the world we visited Orange Babies in Namibia and Zambia. We even lived in Zambia on site. There I saw how urgently and effectively the work is. This feeling remained in the Netherlands.”
“With the founding of Where, we wanted to support non -profit organizations by combining business companies with social initiatives. Our slogan is: Connect, Inspire, Create. So I thought: What if I connect orange babies to summum?”
“Since I know summum and the founders of Jos and nor, I knew that it would go perfectly together.”
Jories: “Your enthusiasm was contagious. He touched me. In addition to our regular planning, it was a lot of additional work to design a capsule collection, it immediately felt right. We had to do that.”
“In this way we can really do something.”
