Global Connection is delighted to support Red Balloon Revolution, a non-profit organisation that benefits underprivileged children while solving expat partners’ desire to work.
Who’s involved?
(1) Jitra Janssonius-Sinselmeijer and Sophie Vos-Kooistra, two enterprising expat partners; (2) HEINEKEN, with a partner policy that looks further than just career support; (3) Global Connection, with its knowledge, support and network. Together, they are fulfilling the ‘desire to work’ in a creative way. Jitra is on her first international posting and Sophie on her second (her first was in Canada); one left a job behind, the other her own business. A ‘regular job’ in South Africa wasn’t an option, so the pair came up with an idea to start a non-profit organisation called Red Balloon Revolution.
Boosting esteem and confidence
Jitra and Sophie want to help boost the self-esteem and self-confidence of underprivileged children by throwing them creative birthday parties. Red Balloon Revolution will raise funds through developing and selling online a selection of ‘fun’ items made by local businesses. That way, everyone can have their cake and eat it too!
Starting a revolution
Setting up a foundation was new to Jitra and Sophie. They used their partner support budget to receive professional advice. As the name of their new organisation suggests, Jitra and Sophie want to start a revolution. Global Connection is helping them to look at ways they can roll out this fantastic concept worldwide, so that other Global Connection members – wherever they are located – can launch their own red balloon.
