“The Makers” Making it for Charity

“The Makers” Making it for Charity

Women and Jewellery were the perfect partners in a fundraising initiative by the Makers Jewellery collaborative based in Wellington, and Positive Women Inc., a support organisation for women and families living with HIV.

“Doing this fundraiser was a great experience for all of us “, says Vaune Mason, from The Makers Jewellery. “As a tiny arts-based business, it’s a real buzz for our team to be able to make a difference. Positive Women Inc does amazing work all around New Zealand and we’re lucky enough to know some of the families they have helped.”

Funds were raised through activities over a four-week period. These included several Charity Auctions on facebook where artists donated pieces of hand-crafted jewellery for auction. There were two special exhibition evenings where artists donated 25% of the sales of all jewellery sold and there were amazing raffles with products donated by local Wellington companies including MAC Cosmetics.

Mason would love to see initiatives like this taken up more often by other businesses and groups. “The work to raise funds can be quite hard, there’s a lot to organise and plan; but overall, the benefit to your business or team is that they’re able to get out and make connections with others in such a positive way. Working together for the social good of a community has an amazing uplifting effect on everyone involved.”

The fundraising initiative reached over $2,000 and Mason says she thinks that might only be part of the benefit from the project. “We also hope that this boosted the public awareness of Positive Women Inc and the work that they do”.

Positive Women Inc have decided to use the donation for a specific project, which reflects the inclusive and whānau centred values of The Makers.

“The biggest barrier for people living with HIV is stigma and discrimination” says Jane Bruning, National Coordinator of Positive Women Inc. “That is why the funds raised will go towards the HIV Family Hui, the only time families affected by HIV can come together for a weekend for support and to share experiences with others who are going through similar experiences”.

“When a woman contracts HIV, it affects the whole family”, says Bruning, “which is why the Family Hui is so important”.

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NOTES TO JOURNALISTS

Positive Women Inc. is an organisation providing support for women and families living with HIV and also aims to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS in the community through educational programmes with a focus on prevention and de-stigmatisation.

Links: www.positivewomen.org.nz

www.themakersjewellery.co.nz

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