Christmas Reflections and the St. Jakob Foundation

Hi Everyone,

Christmas for me has always been a time to reflect. Look back at the year that has passed and be thankful.

2019 was an exciting year for me. Many wonderful trips including attending New York Fashion Week for the very first time. I met loads of lovely and interesting people. Made new friends and was able to bring FunkyForty GmbH up to a next level.

Looking back  just before starting FunkyForty I had a very sad time with my dear Father passing away, one of my best friends leaving the world and a  job I loved very much coming to an end. Thanks to an amazing support group of family and friends and my own determination, life eventually took a turn for the positive. For 5 years now, I have been running FunkyForty. I needed the sad things to happen to give me the courage to try something new. New doors opened and I am truly doing and following my life’s passion.

Not everyone is so fortunate in life. A few weeks ago I was invited by a dear friend of mine to visit the St. Jakob Foundation in Zurich. The foundation was started in 1902 by Lady Burkli  with the aim of giving blind women  meaning full work once they left school. At the time the foundation was based in a family home and the work was basket weaving. This post gives you a brief insight into what the St. Jakob Foundation has now become.

Keep reading for more about Christmas reflections and an introduction to the St. Jakob Foundation.

 

Christmas Reflections and an introduction to the St. Jakob Foundation

Above you see the lovely newish home of the St. Jakob Foundation.

Since 1902 it has grown to now employing a team of around 530 people all working towards a common goal. Initially limited to basket weaving, the same principle exists today, providing a high quality product to society, but the product and service range has increased substantially.

Of the 530 around 420 workers are so called “protected people”. These are people who due to some unfortunate circumstance, handicap or illness are not able to work in a normal working environment.

The ST. Jakob Foundation is not a charity, it is much more.

Thanks to the St. Jakob Foundation the protected people are given the opportunity to generate an income. As a result generating self esteem and a real purpose in life. The environment is super supportive, no pressure and work is allocated according to what a person likes and is able to do. Some are incredibly talented – completing woven chairs like the one above is no easy feat!

There are 7 main services which the St. Jakob Foundation provides its clients:

1. Gastronomy
2. Digitalisation
3. Electronics
4. Gardening and Maintenance
5. Carpentry
6. Mailing and Packaging
7. Weaving

Currently many big companies throughout Zurich use their services. I noticed the Sprüngli cardboard boxes were getting made here. Radio 24 ordered one of their 40 year celebration gifts here. Swiss Re get their wonderful fresh bread from the St. Jakob foundation.

Maybe you too have a service you would like to outsource to the St. Jakob Foundation. You don’t need to be a company. Many private individuals get their furniture renovations done here for example.

 

To find out more:

Gewerbezentrum
Viaduktstrasse 20
CH-8005 Zürich
Tel. 044 295 93 93
info@st-jakob.ch

 

Follow on Instagram: here

 

---

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas

Thank you so much for reading FunkyForty throughout the year, I look forward to bringing you many more fun posts throughout 2020!

 

Sign up for the FunkyForty newsletter for regular Fashion and Lifestyle updates!

 

Please don’t forget to click on the heart at the end of this post if you liked it – anyone can do it – you don’t have to register at all.

The comment section is at the end of the post, I love reading all your comments.

Enjoy the Festive season, open your heart and help others less fortunate!

52 Persons think this post is funky