Training & Equipping
Introductory class at Institute of Mental Health (IMH)
We conducted our first handicraft lesson at the premises of IMH teaching some clients how to hand stitch fabric key chain. This project has helped one of them raise her self-confidence and she has since been able to find a permanent job.
Testimony from Mary (real name has been replaced to protect confidentiality)
"I'm suffering from anxiety depression and have not been working for 5 years before I chanced upon My Nyonya Shop. I was a patient of IMH, and still am, my doctor found me doing nothing and so referred me to Job Club at IMH for job placement. There I went through a series of empowerment training and was later referred to an occupational therapist who recommended me to My Nyonya Shop for a kick-start project. Before that, while I was still undergoing training, it did bother me when I would go to after this. As I can sew, I was delighted to be offered this job placement by My Nyonya because this means that I am going somewhere now. I began seeing myself working towards a goal, a goal where I can do something and bring myself some income.
Finally I clinched the deal and started to work. During this period of time doing this sewing project, it allows me to work out some of my anxieties where I get to train myself to take things one at a time and be able to to accomplish the job done, It gave me self confidence and look forward to to lre projects where I get to clinch another deal from another resources and earning a permanent income.
My Nyonya Shop aims at helping those who are looking for a job and find it hard to get one. They want to help those who are in need but are disadvantaged by their short-comings and nowhere to turn to. It was through Project Fireplace that boosts my confidence to work again."
Empowering Workshop
On-Site Skills Training at a local Church
The first pilot project at Bali - "Project Fireplace" provided jobs to an underprivileged group through a micro-financing plan which led to an improved livelihood for them and their families. the group of unskilled villagers were trained to produce handmade batik products from scratch over a period of 3 months. Their individually handcrafted products were well received by local retailers.
Fireplace International has donated 3 sewing machine since inception. Our contribution of these machine have proven useful to the livelihood of those who depended on it.
Sharing Christmas Joy With Slum Kids
Distributing Gift Packs to Slum Kids at Pelita
We visited Pondok Hayak, a children's home and Pelita, a slum area with many poor families in Surabaya during Christmas in December 2014. We distributed gift packs and celebrated Christmas with different groups there. Pondok Hayak also provides temporary shelter for unwed mothers and single mothers. During the trip, Joe and Carol had the privilege of naming a new born baby boy. They named him Barnabas and they hope Barnabas will grow to be a son of encouragement to many.
Fireplace International is a one-stop online shop where you can find exquisite and unique handicrafts from around the world, made by skilled artisans and aspiring craftsmen. Every handicraft has a story to tell and we would like to share it with the world.
We welcome highly motivated individuals with gifts and talents, time, energy and resources, and a passion for our people-oriented mission and skills development goal to join us in impacting lives and communities.
We may be a small set-up but we have big dreams to see the world a better place for all, and where everyone; rich or not-so-rich, can enjoy the little pleasures of life.
What We Do?
TRAIN, EQUIP, EMPOWER, NURTURE
Fireplace International aspires to make a difference to the underprivileged and marginalized in society by training and equipping them with life skills where they can make a sustainable living for themselves and their families. We nurture potential groups to become entrepreneurs of their own trade by educating them on budgeting and costing, and sourcing of materials locally.
Together with a team of passionate volunteers, we develop projects across cities to help those in need and support small scale skilled artisans globally. We empower small scale skilled artisans by working with them to identify market trends and design marketable products in line with their heritage.
We also collaborate with other social enterprises with similar vision through buying their handicrafts and supporting their social causes. We believe by partnering with like-minded groups, we can build a better future for these communities.
Skills Empowering Workshop
On-Site Skills Training at a local Church
The first pilot project at Bali - "Project Fireplace" provided jobs to an underprivileged group through a micro-financing plan which led to an improved livelihood for them and their families. the group of unskilled villagers were trained to produce handmade batik products from scratch over a period of 3 months. Their individually handcrafted products were well received by local retailers.
Fireplace International has donated 3 sewing machine since inception. Our contribution of these machine have proven useful to the livelihood of those who depended on it.
Blessing Trip to Share Christmas Joy
Distributing Gift Packs to Slum Kids at Pelita
We visited Pondok Hayak, a children's home and Pelita, a slum area with many poor families in Surabaya during Christmas in December 2014. We distributed gift packs and celebrated Christmas with different groups there. Pondok Hayak also provides temporary shelter for unwed mothers and single mothers. During the trip, Joe and Carol had the privilege of naming a new born baby boy. They named him Barnabas and they hope Barnabas will grow to be a son of encouragement to many.
Specialized Training to Field Partners
Conducting teachers training at a church in Denpasar
We were invited by a church in Bali, Denpasar to conduct a specialized training to a group of Sunday School teachers. During the 3 hrs clinic, the teachers picked up creative ideas in planning and implementing the Sunday School curriculum. The diverse age range in their church presented a challenging task for them to manage the weekly children services. But they were all passionate, enthusiastic and eager to learn the effective approach to conduct a fun and effective Sunday School.
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Along the trip, Joe conducted a marketplace training on 'Excellence in our Workplace' for the church congregation. They enjoyed the sharing and received practical tips of being excellent in all we do.
Ministry Trips & Field Partners
Visit to School Rebuilding Project at Sunkhani, Dolakha
In Mar'17, Fireplace International was invited by Hand International (an International humanitarian and disaster response network) to visit a school rebuilding site at Sunkhani, Dolakha which is located at 2,000 feet above sea level. Since 2015 Nepal earthquake, many houses and schools around Kathmandu, Kabhre and Dolakha were badly damaged including this school in the mountainous area. Despite the pouring of financial aids globally, supports from multiple NGOs and government effort, the reconstruction works continue to progress in snail pace due to the poor infrastructure around the areas.
During the trip, Joe and Carol linked up with 3 local NGOs - New Hope Ministry, Bright Face Foundation and BG Hands Ministries to explore the possibility of collaboration. Each of these NGOs has been passionately impacting their communities of the underprivileged and needy groups.
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New Hope Ministry - Their core mission is to rescue girls that are at risk of sexual exploration at the Nepal border. They set up New Hope Girls Home to house these rescued girls and provide education, mental and physical needs to help them thrive as adults. Alongside the rescue mission, they have been actively supporting a group of rescued HIV infected women from forced prostitution. Currently they are looking after 17 girls (5-17 year) but they desire to house 50 girls in the near future.
Bright Face Foundation Nepal - They embarked on a journey to rescue the lives of girls and women form premature death caused by malnutrition, diseases and human traffickers. They have adopted 12 orphans who suffered malnutrition and housed them at the '"Angel Girls Home" at Lalitpur. These rescued orphans are from "Chepang" tribal people who are the poorest among the Nepalis.
BG Hands Ministries - They have been running various projects related to livelihood, child protection and woman empowerment in Sarlahi, Kathmandu and Dolakha districts. Since the 2015 earthquake, they have built 15 houses for the disabled, old and blind, sick and the poorest people at Sunkhani, Dolakha. The school rebuilding project in Sunkhani is their latest education initiative to reach out to the village children and ensure they have a proper school to go to.
Equipping the Marginalized
Introductory class at Institute of Mental Health (IMH)
We conducted our first handicraft lesson at the premises of IMH teaching some clients how to hand stitch fabric key chain. This project has helped one of them raise her self-confidence and she has since been able to find a permanent job.
Testimony from Mary (real name has been replaced to protect confidentiality)
"I'm suffering from anxiety depression and have not been working for 5 years before I chanced upon My Nyonya Shop. I was a patient of IMH, and still am, my doctor found me doing nothing and so referred me to Job Club at IMH for job placement. There I went through a series of empowerment training and was later referred to an occupational therapist who recommended me to My Nyonya Shop for a kick-start project. Before that, while I was still undergoing training, it did bother me when I would go to after this. As I can sew, I was delighted to be offered this job placement by My Nyonya because this means that I am going somewhere now. I began seeing myself working towards a goal, a goal where I can do something and bring myself some income.
Finally I clinched the deal and started to work. During this period of time doing this sewing project, it allows me to work out some of my anxieties where I get to train myself to take things one at a time and be able to to accomplish the job done, It gave me self confidence and look forward to to lre projects where I get to clinch another deal from another resources and earning a permanent income.
My Nyonya Shop aims at helping those who are looking for a job and find it hard to get one. They want to help those who are in need but are disadvantaged by their short-comings and nowhere to turn to. It was through Project Fireplace that boosts my confidence to work again."
Expedition Trip to Nepal
Collaboration with field partners
Through our partnership with various ministries and organizations in Indonesia, Nepal, East Malaysia and Israel, we had been able to encourage and minister to different congregations such as speaking to the local churches, ministering to the single unwed mothers; to the children and youths at orphanages, invited to run a children's camp programme. We also met up with our ministry partners at their church ground and enjoyed a great Israeli hospitality and sumptuous home-cooked meal.
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