Beebee+Bongo- Supporting women and families in Cambodia

When your kids drive you bongo, find the funny

I am so excited to share a really special brand with you! As soon as I heard about the amazing work Beebee+Bongo are doing to support women and families in Cambodia, I just knew I had to tell you about it. Beebee+Bongo is a new brand of eco-friendly toys that celebrates the ups and downs of parenting, while creating employment for women in Cambodia. 

Just as Monika, founder of Beebee + Bongo said in the video, parenting struggles are universal. *Don’t we know it! Wherever you go, whoever you talk to, no matter the cultural differences or socio-economic status, children everywhere push our buttons, embarrass us, keep us up at night, and generally drive us all crazy! 

Monika and the Cambodia Knits Organization (CKO), agree that being able to laugh at the situations our kids get us into —and ourselves—is key to surviving parenthood:

“We believe a healthy dose of humour is essential for parents. Your kids can drive you mad and there will be colossal disasters from time to time, but the best thing to do is take it in your stride and laugh.” – Monika

Get Behind Beebee +Bongo’s Kickstarter Project

Beebee + Bongo toys are designed with these parenting moments in mind. Each toy in the Sleepy Snoogus line-up for example, has its own unique sleep profile that parents and kids can relate to, including Sabay the Pig who has to wake up every two hours to eat. All of these wonderful, carefully created creatures are designed to remind parents that they aren’t alone in these struggles.  

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1951628744/find-the-funny

The truly wonderful thing about this story is that Beebee + Bongo and the Cambodia Knits Organization support parents locally in Cambodia by providing much sought after employment. Starting from January 1st 2021, Beebee + Bongo will become the primary purchaser of Cambodia Knits Organization products, all of which are eco-friendly, hand-made, and provide women with home-based employment that most importantly is fairly paid. 

“COVID-19 has wiped out 97% of tourism in Siem Reap, home to the World Heritage Angkor Wat Temples, and with it, tens of thousands of jobs. We decided to fight back—and fight harder than before—to ensure that we can keep these women employed, and employ even more.” Monika

The company estimates that for every $1300 in sales, CKO can employ another knitter. The Kickstarter campaign launched on November 24th will enable them to expand their product line and message to families around the world. 

Bongo the water buffalo is calm, industrious and patient

“These are products made for parents, by parents, that you can feel good about having in your home.” 

These gorgeous toys from Beebee+Bongo are not only fun for the children who play with them, they’re a friendly reminder to all of us that parenting isn’t about doing it perfectly, it’s about doing it with love and a sense of humor. A great reminder for all of us, especially this year!! Please do some research, find out more about the wonderful work of Cambodia Knits, and think about gifting a donation in support of this wonderful brand.

Please dig deep and help CKO create jobs for families in Cambodia and delightful products for families just like yours around the world.

Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give – Unknown


All the info

You can read more about the producers here

Support this wonderful work for as little as $5 a month now on Kickstarter! Visit Kickstarter and help keep all the knitters knitting through the Covid-19 Crisis. 

If you would like to talk to someone about making a donation, please email Monika using the link below.

Liptember- Perk up your pout and help out!

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You’ll know by now that I am an avid supporter when it comes to mental health awareness. I have shared my journey through parenting a child with severe anxiety and PTSD, a journey that has opened my eyes to what support is available and what isn’t. Hence why I am taking part in Liptember 2020!  Even if I’m still stuck at home, with biscuit crumbs in my hair, dog tired of remote learning, I’ll be doing the whole of September in my brightest lippy to raise much needed funds for mental health charities!!! 

What is Liptember?

Liptember, if you haven’t heard, is a campaign dedicated to raising funds and awareness for women’s mental health, harnessing the true potential of the collective, encouraging and inspiring people to listen, share, and learn.

Helping start the conversation off by popping a little colour on; individuals are encouraged to register online and seek sponsorship from family, friends and co-workers for committing to wear lippy throughout September.

Funds raised during the month of September are donated to the Centre for Women’s Mental Health, Lifeline, Batyr, The Jean Hailes Foundation, The Pretty Foundation and The Magpie Nest Women’s Program.

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It’s so easy for you and your gals to get involved in Liptember. All you need to do is, decide whether you’re going to smash this as a team or go it alone and take all the glory! Then you need to register, commit to wearing a fabulous bold lippy for a day, a week or even the whole month of September (**Yes you can) and show your support to women who need it most!

Become a part of our community and help raise funds to positively impact women’s mental health across Australia- Liptember

It’s as easy as this:

lipsPurchase a Liptember lipstick from any Chemist Warehouse, My Chemist or My Beauty Spot store.

lipsRegister online and start fundraising to add to the $2million already raised.

lipsRock your lippy throughout September! **Wooohoooo!! (As if we need to be asked more than once!)

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So grab your gal pals, create your plan, buy some of the most insanely gorgeous lippy you can get your hands on and support women’s mental health!

There are some great ‘Fundraising Resources’ here!

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You can follow my journey this September by clicking onto my socials. If you’re a kind soul you can also support my Liptember fundraising here!

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