A Gift with Care is a social business that provides special people (SP, henceforth) with job opportunities and sustainable income, through selling of perfume and personal care products.
Our Mission is to
provide employment opportunities to SP;
assist SP and their charitable organisations in becoming financially self-reliant;
enhance confidence and instill a sense of self-worth in SP though real outcomes such as employment; and
raise public awareness about, and eliminate negative stereotypes towards. SP.
Barriers To Employment
In Malaysia, there are approximately 220,000 people with disabilities, approximately 95,000 of whom are registered with the Department of Welfare Services.
Disturbingly, only 4,000, or 4%, of these people enjoy paid employment. This figure stands in stark contrast to those of developed nations such as the United States, where roughly 15.6 million people with disabilities, or 34%, are employed.
A large proportion of SP, especially those with physical disabilities, can join the workforce along-side the rest of society if given the opportunity, and if some cases, if workplace modifications are made (e.g., improved access and transport). Some SP, however, face greater hardship due to more sever disabilities. For example, people with certain mental disabilities or motor dis-coordination may not be able to maintain employment. AGift gives priority to SP who fall into this minority.
How Do We Operate?
AGift helps better the lives of SP in three major ways:
Firstly, we provide employment opportunities to SP by utilizing their talents in decorating the bottles our products are sold in. For every bottles decorated, a negotiated wage is paid either directly to the painter or to their beneficiary organisation. All SP working with AGift are recommended by their approval from their gurdian/s.
Secondly, for every product sold, an amount up to RM10 is set aside for our charity partners.
Thirdly, after our financial audit, we will donate a significant portion of our profits after tax (targeting 20%) to our charity partners. This is in addition to the competitive wages paid to the SP working for AGift.
We make sure that our painters have fun in the process. There is no possibility of SP being exploited since all drawing sessions are guided by experienced and committed social workers, volunteers, and quite often, the parents and gurdians themselves. Most of the times our painters work in their comfort zone, only when they feel like it, and only when they are physically and mentally capable. To accommodate the various needs of our painters,our painting production runs at a very slow space.
Why Are We Different?
From Dependency to Self-Advocacy
It is very important for non-for-profit organisations to have operations that are self-sustainable. Many large and well-established not-for-profit organisations do not only rely on charity from society but seek to be self-sufficient by generating income through recycling and manufacturing activities. These operations, however, are based on a collective effort from volunteers. Smaller not-for-profit organisations, on the other hand, often rely heavily on donations and help from volunteers who mostly consists of parents and caretakers of SP.
This project will not only support charitable organisations who helps SP, but will also enable SP to contribute directly to their own welfare through the process of decorating the bottles. This serves as an opportunity to educate them about the value of work, and foster a sense confidence and feeling of self-worth - the knowledge that you can do something is critical part of the learning process.
Encouraging Self-Expression
As you would find in everyday society, our painters have varying degrees of artistic talent. All of our painters, however, enjoy the ability to express themselves through their work with AGift. Self-expression through media such as arts, crafts, music and dance can provide people with an opportunity for self-discovery.
Eliminating Social Stigma Towards Disability
Negative stereotypes about SP can lower expectations and contribute to policies that keep SP in social and economic isolation. It is important that our society does not perceive SP as merely charity recipients, but as productive human beings that are capable of contributing back to society and taking control of their own destinies, Through increased understanding and interactions, this is what AGift aims to achieve.
Last but not least, Show Your Support !
While people are generally altruistic in nature, with the ever increasing pace of day-to-day life, making a continuous commitment to a charity can sometimes be overshadowed by other more immediate matters.
Through AGift, we hope to tap into wider community and make our products easily accessible. In this way, society can support SP by simply purchasing items that are of daily use.
Our Mission to Create Premium Quality Products
Although AGift aims to improve social inclusion for SP, we realize that in order to survive in today's consumer market, not sacrifice can be made when it comes to quality. Our goal is that once you try an AGift product, its quality alone will justify you coming back for more. Hence, whether its basic toiletries or exclusive fragrances, we ensure that AGift products exceed the high standards set by consumers and compete readily with other leading/commercial brands in the market.
Our Charity Partner
InnerScent Perfume
True Beauty comes from within.
while our world tends to focus on the physical and external, our InnerScent range of Eau De Toilette (EDT) or Eau De Perfum (EDP) perfumes in inspired by the inner beauty that lies within us.
Each perfume has been designed with a particular quality in mind.
Draw people towards you with your inner radiance.
Like all AGift perfumes, each InnerScent EDT/EDP bottles has been hand decorated by a special person.
The Bottles of our EDT/EDP has been painted by a person with special needs. Purchase this product to show your support, as the proceeds will partially go to charitable organisations that assists these people.
Left: RM32.90/25ml
Right: RM59.90/60ml
Defination of "BENEVOLENCE"
Benevolence is an inclination towards performing charitable acts.
Gender:
For Her
Characteristic of Scent:
Sensual & Enduring
Story:
Benji, the white elephant in the packaging, has a leg that is shorter than the others. He had difficulty walking, and did not dare to explore the forest alone. One day, he come across a herd of elephants and befriended them. His new friends guided him everywhere, including the forest. Now Benji no longer fears the forest and can enjoy its beauty like all the other animals.
Left: RM32.90 / 25ml
Right: RM59.90 / 60ml
Having, or compelled by intense emotion or a strong feeling of positive affinity.
Gender:
For Her
Characteristic of Scent:
Fruity & Sweet
Story:
Life is boring without or someone you are passionate about. The hands on the packaging embrace the beautiful flowers, the bright and shinning sun, an the little things that are wonderful in life. We only have one life to live! Make it count.
Left: RM32.90 / 25ml
Right: RM59.90 / 60ml
Defination of "Grace"
Grace is favor or good will, mercy and pardon.
Gender:
For Her
Characteristic of Scent:
Alluring
Story:
Grace has a terrible childhood but has a heart of gold. The worst in life can sometimes bring out the best in us. Grace's tears become something beautiful.
Left: RM 32.90 / 25ml
Right: RM59.90 / 60ml
Defination of "Courage"
Courage is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger and pain without fear.
Gender:
For Him
Characteristic of Scent:
Masculine
Story:
Sometimes in life you have to challenge yourself to new limits, making tough decisions that would set you in a whole new direction, or doing what you have to do despite of fear. That is the meaning of true courage.
AGift Outlet Location:
1st Avenue Mall, Penang.
LG-33A, 1st Avenue,
182, Jalan Magazine,
10300 Georgetown,
Penang, Malaysia.
Queensbay Mall, Penang.
1F-73A, Qeuunsbay Mall,
100 Persiaran Bayan Indah,
11900 Bayan Lepas,
Panang, Malaysia.
Office: 121-A, Jalan Kelawei, 10250 Penang, Malaysia.
Phone: +604-2281829
Fax: +604-2283829
For further enquiries, kindly email to info@agift.my
Visit us at www.facebook.com/AGiftWithCare or our website www.Agift.my
