6 minute read
It Works’ ESIMBI social enterprise
Tina Lobondi BLUSH | LEISURE & LIFESTYLE It Works Fashion Designer and Philanthropist Tina Lobondi talks about her social enterprise Esimbi... sevenstarmedia.co.uk 36 BLUSH | SUMMER 2020
Tina Lobondi Tell us about the Esimbi
social enterprise?
The point is to create employment and career opportunities for young people in the UK and Congo. I have personally experienced doing internships and workshops that didn’t end up leading to anything concrete. I just wanted to find the missing element, and I can understand what is needed now. This is how the project came to life. It took about a year to put the process in place. Esimbi means “it works” in Lingala, one of the languages spoken in the DRC. And we – that is myself and the team – have worked really hard to make sure IT works… and we hope that Esimbi will continue to do exactly that.
Why did you choose to set-up Esimbi?
I chose to set up Esimbi because it was very hard for me to witness the lack of art and activities in these children’s lives back in Congo, simply because their schools cannot afford the materials they need to turn their creative thoughts into creative things. Being able to express my fears and dreams through drawing, writing or even singing has played a big part in who I am as a person. And, I believe that giving back socially to a community should be on everyone’s bucket list and the work that we are doing with Esimbi is my contribution.
What is your favourite part of the Esimbi events you organise?
My favourite part of any Esimbi event is that people understand the message. It shows me that there is support out there and hopefully this is a sign of longevity for Esimbi as a social enterprise. Of course, the fashion shows go beautifully as well; I love bringing art and design together in a positive fundraising way.
Where is your social enterprise going in the future?
Going forward, we want to bring the project to Congo and have some impact there. We hope that once the mini-series will be completed and aired on TV, that more businesses will want to get involved. In Congo, the challenge is bigger though – there will be a lot of work with the street kids and the schools. Psychologists as well as mentors will be needed to assist the young kids. And this is why this is in a long-term plan, so that we can be prepared for these bigger challenges. We do have a five-year plan, which defines our goals and projects… We are aiming to assist about twenty children each year with their basic needs such as clothing, a home, clean water, education… the basic needs we often take for granted, but are key for future independence, and so this is our main focus. We are looking to collaborate with companies to find volunteers to do workshops within the arts industry.
What impact do you hope to make through your designs and your social enterprise?
I would like to inspire people to follow their dreams but also to realise the hard work that is involved in that process. I want young people to see that if you surround yourself with positivity and other likeminded supportive people that life can be good and worthwhile and comfortable. I aim to ‘Inspire | Empower | Achieve’ – which is Esimbi’s motto. The Tina Lobondi label will organise fundraising for Esimbi so that its alliance charities can carry on with their outstanding jobs.
I would like to inspire people to follow their dreams but also for them to realise the hard work involved in that process
BLUSH | LEISURE & LIFESTYLE sevenstarmedia.co.uk BLUSH | SUMMER 2020 37
So maybe my work with Esimbi will inspire me more – I have already designed a very simple but effective Esimbi T-shirt, which helps to support funds for the social enterprise and has been bought and worn by Thandie Newton.
When did you realise you wanted to pursue fashion design, and has African print in particular always been the dream?
African print was never on my mind actually. I always see the material as the cherry on the top but not the main dish… I used to draw a lot as a child so I wanted to have a job related to that, and the designs just came to me, and it has all been very organic.
What is the key to success for somebody in the fashion industry?
The key to success is persistence... You need to keep going no matter what life throws at you, and learn to trust your gut feelings.
What advice would you offer to anyone wanting to go into a fashion or arts career?
I would advise them to practise and observe how a few people work. Learn from other people’s mistakes and take time to make your own, and learn from them too. It is also important to stay with people who have a similar mindset so you can motivate each other during hard times.
Do you think it is difficult for a woman to be successful in business?
I think it is difficult for anyone to be successful in business. From my own experience, women tend to think more than men, so maybe this is the reason why we take longer to blossom. I think that being good at multitasking is our strongest skill.
Do you think being listed in Forbes Afrique can inspire others to be successful?
I was listed in Forbes Afrique as one of the entrepreneurs to watch out for and this was truly an honour. I have received many messages from young adults who read the article, saying that it had motivated them to work harder. This is the impact and feedback we want to have with all our projects.
@tinalobondi @philanthropistinheels @esimbirdc
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