1001 Ways to Truly Make a Difference- Part 1

A look at how unexpected additions to our  team are not only making a difference to the whole community but also helping the Fran London Fabric Arts Centre live up to its name.

                                                                                                       Pictured above, table settings designed by Uugantsetseg of                                                                                                                                                    Khariin Khurim  and crafted with pride by the ladies of the Fran London Fabric Arts Centre

 What motivates people to come forward and help their fellow man ( and woman!)? Who are these people who step up and give of their time, talents and ideas to help the less fortunate and how do they come up with their plans for helping? I have been doing this work for a long time and am very often struck by  the extraordinary kindness and generosity offered by a huge variety of people and so I thought I would share just one story with you of a lady who is truly helping us change lives. . This person is Khariin Khurim Director Uugantsetseg Bayarsaikhan.  On the surface, you wouldn't think that Uuganaa, one of Mongolia's premier designers and the ladies from our Fabric Arts Center all of whom are ladies who previously scavenged to survive would have much in common. That is where you would be wrong. They have humanity, and beauty, and pride in handiwork in common and recently we got to see just how wonderful that can be.

We met Ugaanaa in 2016 and when she learned of the work that we do she immediately  was motivated to help not only the children but also the entire Songino - Khaikhan / Ulaanchuuluut community in any way she could. As one of Mongolia's premiere designers and fashion artist, her exceptional talent and kind heart has resulted in a few really outstanding collaborations which have had tremendous impact on our community.

Ugaanaa helped us initially by designing and creating two fabulous Modern Deals that highlighted our Custom Jade snuff bottle and button sets as an auction item at our 2017 Gobi Gallop Gala charity auction and provided professional models and other designs for a very elegant addition to our event. I thought that that was going to be the extent of it. I mean, really, it didn't seem to me that there was much interface possible between the folks from the landfill and this amazing artist.  Boy was I wrong!

Recently after a visit to our Children of the Peak Sanctuary Project, together her friend Solongo Bumkhuu at Profile Agency and Enkhjin at Lenox Mongolia, Uuganaa  came up with the idea to help the ladies at our sewing centre increase the professionalism and detail of their work by sharing her skills, knowledge and talent with them.  The help of such a true professional was very well received by our seamstresses and lead to further collaboration over the holiday season. Together, in December, there was a wonderful example of collaboration between two groups that might never otherwise have found each other - and it resulted in not only beautiful things that are now gracing many Mongolian homes, but increased self worth for our seamstresses, great exposure for our project and new and long lasting friendships.

Thanks to Uuganaa and her team, not only did the ladies from the Fran London Fabric Arts Centre begin creating beautiful wares that anyone would be proud to display on their holiday tables but we were able to sell them at Khariin Khurim's design salon and elsewhere with the proceeds being enough to cover the materials used PLUS the salaries of 2 of our seamstresses for a month!

In addition to adding value and  self worth to the ladies' work and helping the financial bottom line, the resulting awareness of the work that we are doing has already had additional impacts as more and more people seeing what the ladies are capable of and witnessing themselves the community follow on from helping the less fortunate. Ugaanaa is inspiring other to step forward to join our team and  helpothers in the community. Helping each other truly is the gift that keeps on giving and really is the secret to our success! Thank you Uuganaa , Solongo and Enkhjin for  your unique way  of helping us make a difference!

Some of the ladies from the Fran London Fabric Arts Centre with some of the other handiwork they are mastering.