![]() LM: I would say never give up! I’ve learned that being an social entrepreneur is really tough. GC: What would be your advice to anyone interested in starting a business that gives back? I would love to expand the brand into scarves and even into a clothing line some day. LM: Some of my goals are to continue to build the brand, and raise awareness of the low status of women around the world. GC: What are some of your goals for the next 5 and/or 10 years? I have also perfected my jewelry making skills. ![]() I have learned how to tell my story to the world, and how to promote what you are doing, which I have learned is a very important skill, as no one can promote you as well as you can. I have learned how to create a social enterprise, and what that entails. LM: I have learned a lot from working on Body Bijou. GC: What has working on Body Bijou taught you so far? LM: I like to look to nature for inspiration, as well as look at street trends and refine them to make them my own. GC: Where do you get inspiration for your designs? To date, we have provided 24 girls for girls in Kenya, South Africa, Jamaica, and Haiti with scholarship, provided teacher training in Afghanistan, and build a school in Jamaica. I decided to support her cause by donating 50% of the net profits of Body Bijou to GirlsHelpingGirls in an effort to help her raise money. My sister then decided to found GirlsHelpingGirls, a non profit organization that works to raise the global low status of women through education. When we came home, my sister did some research on the low status of women around the world, and realized that this was not just a problem in Kenya, but it was a global problem. Only a handful of girls in the community had access to an education, while the others were stuck in poverty. While in Kenya, my sister and I saw the difference an education can make in the life of a girl if you educate a woman, you educate her family and her community as a whole, and the cycle of poverty can begin to break. L M: Two summers ago, my family took a vacation to rural Kenya to build a school. GC: What inspired you to help other girls in need? After perfecting my craft, I wanted to share my creations with the world, so I created Body Bijou. I really enjoyed the unit, and from there I taught myself more techniques, as well as took some lessons with a jewelry artisan. LM: I learned how to make jewelry in a grade 7 art unit at school. GC: How and why did you decide to create Body Bijou? Pretty incredible, right? I decided to ask Linda a few questions to get to know her, and Body Bijou, a bit better. Together, the two are on a mission to support girls development and help raise the global status of women one girl at a time. ![]() With every purchase of a Body Bijou piece, 50% of profit are donated to the Girls Helping Girls charity, founded by Linda’s sister, Susanna Manziaris. Outside of her daily studies, Linda dedicates her time, efforts and interests to her jewellery line called Body Bijou, a unique handmade body jewellery line and e-shop that helps educate girls around the world. Most recently, that person is 14-year-old Linda Maziaris, a Havergal College student from Toronto. On most days, I fear for the teens and tweens in today’s world, but every now and then I’ll come across an intelligent young person who literally blows me away.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |