Meet Nittaya

In June 2009 I headed to Northern Thailand to work in an orphanage and local schools. It was an incredible experience, my very first overseas and one that would inspire me. Thailand itself captured me from the word go - the scenery, food and most of all, the people. We stayed at an orphanage in Northern Thailand and were privileged to experience real culture! The food, cooked Mamma's each meal time, was tantalizing. There were 100 children from 4 - 18 years of age living there.

We worked in a local school for two days, teaching English. It was challenging coming up with lesson plans teaching numbers, colours and feelings. We sang and danced - anything that the kids might be able to relate to. Back at the orphanage we decided to do something for the community. It turned out that the toilet block needed cleaning! So we cleaned and scrubbed then painted it blue and lavender. The kids were thrilled with the result!

At the orphanage I was privileged to meet a young girl, who insisted I call her by her nickname, Ning. Although I could not understand her language, nor she mine, we got to know each other through the limited words we did know, signals, lots of hand gestures and pointing. She had a mother who lived far away, she was in her final year of schooling and wished to go to university the following year to study social science but said she wouldn't be able to because there was no money available for her to go. I told her about my husband and how I played the piano. It was incredible to feel so connected to someone even though we could not understand each other. Every day we would talk, discover and laugh together. She was beautiful, funny, warm, inspirational, ambitious, and spirited. Meet Nittaya.

On returning to Melbourne I felt so connected with Nittaya I wanted to do something about it! And not just for her, but for anyone who needed a bit of extra help, all around the world. So I decided to launch Nittaya, an organisation that raises money for those in need through the sale of incredible fashion. With pen to paper I set about planning, researching and designing what Nittaya would do, be and how it would function. Soon after we had a launch event which raised over $700 to send Nittaya (the girl) to university. Through buying our clothes and accessories, you have helped numerous amounts of people all over the world. Thank you so much for your support!