Dream-fulfulling ＼ Mbali

Mbali
When Vivianna worked as a volunteer second time in Eswatini, she got a gift from a girl. The girl used Eswatini flag to make a skirt. Vivianna was amazed by her creativity and talent. This gift gave her an idea of creating an on-line marketplace where they can sell their products and craft directly to buyers around the world. People involved will feel good about creating art and at the same time the money from the sale can help the people in need. When Vivianna was thinking about the name of this on-line platform, kids gave her a wonderful suggestion. They said “why not name it Mbali! Mbali in Swazi means flowers.” The word conveys an image of beauty and tenderness. Indeed, Mbali is a perfect choice for this platform.

The team originally planned to set up Mbali platform at the end of 2020. However, because of the outbreak of COVID-19, the team members were forced to return to Taiwan earlier than they expected, and they had trouble tracking down the products in Eswatini. Therefore, the plan of setting up Mbali has been postponed. Nevertheless, the team members still created a Facebook account of Mbali. People can find more information about this multi-cultural, multi-national platform for Eswatini products. If you are interested in Mbali, you can check their Facebook page.

A young girl from Eswatini once told Vivianna that she dreamed of becoming a fashion designer in the future. However, growing up in a country which has a wide gap between the poor and rich, becoming a fashion designer for her is like a dream out of reach. With Vivianna’s encouragement and support, the girl keeps using local fabrics to create intricate designs with vibrant colors. With her resilience and determination, the girl now keeps moving toward her dream.