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Published: December 13th 2010
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Jac First Connected to Lifestart in Vietnam in 2007
Before the team arrived from RMIT University, Jac spent some time with Karen getting to know the 'friends and family' of Lifestart Foundation in Hoi An, Vietnam Every year small businesses and larger corporations choose to consider corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a part of their business. These businesses benefit and give benefit in multiple ways by operating with a perspective broader and longer than their own immediate, short-term profits. Crusoeden Body has chosen Lifestart Foundation (Lifestart) as a viable option to consider for their community-based development focused corporate social responsibility by making a direct difference to the lives of Vietnamese people living in poverty. Crusoeden Body is one example of a business that has chosen to engage with Lifestart in this way.
Three years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a dynamic young woman, Jac Boyle. Jac was a group leader with Oz Quest, who facilitated a trip to Vietnam for a group of RMIT University students who were collaborating on a project with Lifestart. In addition to leading the Oz Quest group, Jac volunteered for Lifestart Foundation in Vietnam. Jac is one of those volunteers who just connected with what we were doing straight away and set about to help us in any way she could. Since that initial trip to Vietnam, Jac and I have become friends and she has continued to help
Making Products
You cannot get more local than this! Jayne Boyle and her daughter Rachael measure the different ingredients in order to make the perfect product in Lockwood, Victoria. and support Lifestart Foundation in a most creative way.
Jac together with her mother Jayne, Dad Neville and her sisters and partners started a business called Crusoeden Body and very generously decided to donate a portion of their profit to Lifestart.
Here is the story about Crusoeden Body, Jac and her family and Lifestart Foundation written by Jac Torres-Gomez (nee Boyle ).
Crusoeden Body (Crusoe-eden – from living on Crusoe Road which is our ‘Eden’) is a small family business selling handmade, local products based in Lockwood, Victoria, Australia. Crusoeden Body started early 2010 and has expanded to have an online presence and provides products to markets, shops and day spas throughout Australia. The products include natural hair, body, and skin care and bath and shower products.
When initially developing our business strategy earlier this year we made a conscious decision to make available a percentage of proceeds from Crusoeden Body products to directly support Lifestart. This idea to support Lifestart was an easy decision to make, particularly as I had previously spent a month in Vietnam with Karen and the team in 2007, as well as being a volunteer on and off since that time back
Our Products
Crusoeden Body makes an array of natural products including hair care, body care and mood essences. in Australia; and thus felt a strong connection to our CSR commitment. This partnership between Lifestart and Crusoeden Body gives us the opportunity to contribute to supporting those disadvantaged in Vietnam by contributing financially to Lifestart more broadly, allowing Lifestart to direct these funds to particular projects depending on need.
When initially developing our plan for support to LSF, Crusoeden Body had to further investigate the amazing work of Lifestart, and to truly develop a connection to the organization in order to promote Lifestart to our customers. We had several conversations with Karen about how it could best work, in order to ensure maximum impact from our support. Being a small business we were aware that the percentage of profits would vary depending on our sales, but Karen assured us that any kind of support to Lifestart was welcome and much appreciated.
One key component is that we wanted to provide the funding as openly as possible so the funds can be directed to where the project managers of Lifestart best feel they are needed.
Our customers develop the knowledge that by purchasing Crusoeden Body products they can be assured that their purchase is truly making a
In the Factory...
Jayne Boyle and her daughter Rachael discuss the different elements of the essential oils they are adding to the products difference as a percentage of all profits go directly to this wonderful charity. Not only are we giving a percentage of our products to Lifestart, we are also selling Lifestart workshop products at our markets where possible. The response has been positive and we have also had return customers asking how they can become involved with the work of Lifestart.
Into the future we will continue to focus on strengthening our work with Lifestart. In particular Jayne, Neville ( Jac's parents ) and Karen have been invited by Rotary to speak about the partnership. Jayne and Neville are also planning to visit Vietnam in 2011 to gauge further ideas of advancing this partnership.
Later in 2011 or early 2012, several staff from Crusoeden Boby hope to travel to Vietnam to train Lifestart workshop participants to make their own products and sell these products to local premium hotels and resorts in Hoi An, Vietnam. We are currently fundraising to send two staff members to Vietnam to run these workshops free of charge, so that Lifestart participants can then go on to create their own products and create financial independence. If you are interested in providing support for this trip
Natural, Handmade Bath Salts
The products are made locally in Lockwood, Victoria and ingredients are natural such as the rose petals which come from Jayne's garden! please contact Karen or myself (Jac) through the contact details below.
If you are interested in having Lifestart Foundation as a direct recipient of your business profits, or to sell Lifestart Foundation workshop products through your business, please contact Karen Leonard.
To do your Christmas shopping while giving back to Lifestart Foundation, and to look at Crusoeden's website, full range of beautiful products and story please visit our website at:
Jac Torres Gomez +61 410002600
jacintatorresgomez@gmail.com / crusoedenbody@gmail.com
We are very grateful to Jac and her family for their wonderful support via Crusoeden Body. We are also very excited at the prospect of being able to train some of our workshop members to make beautiful body products that in turn will hopefully provide them with a sustainable income stream.
Read more about the Lifestart Foundation Workshop here LIFESTART FOUNDATION WORKSHOP Lots of Love from Karen
www.lifestartfoundation.org.au
The Lifestart Foundation website also has been updated recently www.lifestartfoundation.org.au Have a look when you have time.
Enjoying the blogs?? Forward them on or subscribe those who you think would be interested in Lifestart Foundations work.......its free!
Visit us at:
LIFESTART FOUNDATION WORKSHOP
77 Phan Chu Trinh Street,
HOI AN.
VIETNAM
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