How it came about….
My main priority with Pipity is customer satisfaction, and to ensure that this is being met I have checked every Pipity Activity Case before sending it out myself, or to Amazon or selling it at a fair. I have put aside a number of Activity Cases with minor imperfections over the past couple of years, and am working with my manufacturers to ensure the these do not slip through the quality control checks at their end….all part of the learning curve of building my little business! This has meant I have a few boxes of Activity Cases which are sitting at the back of my storage unit, which I was deliberating what to do with … and then I met Jax running her Bushbells stand at the Ugbooke Fair in the Spring.
Jax is one of life’s enthusiastic, generous and lovey givers and I was really inspired by the Bushbells story and her efforts to support the communities she loves in the coastal areas of Kenya. She provides livelihoods for local tailors who produce bright, bold and beautiful clothing from kikoy cloth, which she buys and then sells at fairs in the UK, using the profits to support schools back in the same local coastal communities. I had a lightbulb moment and showed Jax my Pipity cases, and wondered if they might be able to put my set aside stock to good use in the schools.
From Jax…
The joy about doing what I do (selling wonderful brightly coloured kikoy clothing to raise funds to build schools…..!) is the people you meet long the way. I was lucky enough to meet Kate back in May, and there was an obvious connection between what I sell, and what she sells too - all children based.
Kate very kindly approached me with the offer of some her fabulous satchels and work books for the children at the school. And about 3 weeks ago, two huge box loads arrived and another kind friend helped me get them out to Bluebells School.
Meantime, this term, the school have been SO lucky to have had Athena H in residence as an ‘art’ volunteer, and she has completely transformed those children’s lives by introducing them to the fun world of colour and art. With so little resources, art has neverhappened at the school - but Athena has made all this possible. (Do visit her instagram page - thewatamuwanderer to see more of her incredible art).
So, it seemed entirely apposite that the end of term ceremony on the 24th October should involve Athena as the ‘guest speaker’ and the person to give out prizes to the children.
Our wonderful donation from Pipity meant that every child had something substantial and meaningful to walk away with - from Pipity’s fantastic activity books full of games and colouring activities, to their beautiful activity satchels. In their world, where subsistence is key, an activity satchel full of colouring pens and pencils, books and activities is totally luxurious, and will help keep them busy during the long summer holiday break ahead.
We say an enormous ‘Asante Sana’ to Kate at Pipity for her most generous and kind donation, and the smiles on the children’s faces say it all. Pip Pip xx (no pun intended!) xx
Thank you…
Jax has been brilliant to work with, and so grateful for the Pipity goodies sent. However, she is the one making the world a better place with her passion and dedication to support those with much less than we have, so I want to say a big THANK YOU to her for all her brilliant work. The photos of these children with their Pipity goodies are the highlight of 2017 for me! Do check out the Bushbells website: https://www.bushbells.com/