The NZDSA has joined forces with Downlights NZ to raise funding that will enable the Auckland-based social enterprise to expand, which in turn will generate funds for our national association.
Downlights are beautiful scented soy candles, hand poured by young adults with Down syndrome and intellectual or learning disabilities and company is crowdfunding to offer more young adults meaningful employment.
Downlights NZ on March 26 launched its capital-raising campaign and is supported by the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association.
The company donates one dollar out of every candle sold to a charitable trust and the NZDSA is one of the two beneficiaries of their generosity.
Downlights aims to raise $300,000 to move to a new headquarters with new equipment which will make production easier for their existing Downlighters and the new team members that they will be able to employ.
The company’s tagline ‘illuminate-care-change’ amplifies their dream to set an example for other employers in New Zealand by looking to ‘illuminate’ and light the way by creating jobs and showing ‘care’ as a community by offering opportunities within their company.
They hope that one day, this will pave the way for ‘change’ that leads to greater acceptance for people with special needs to be placed and valued in today’s growing workforce.
Downlights found its beginnings with Illumina, which was born in 2013 from Jennifer Del Bel’s passion and desire to create a luxe candle company that manufactured the longest burning fragrant hand poured soy candles.
For as little as $300 you can help them reach our funding goal of $300,000 to create jobs that will transform young Kiwi lives and lead to independence for the greater disability sector.
There are three ways you can help:
1 – Join the PledgeMe campaign to help us reach our goals
https://pledgeme.co.nz/investments/390-downlights-limited
2 – Share our campaign message on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn to help us get more people to pledge
3 – Please keep buying our products via the Downlights website