|
MESSY BESSY
Messy Bessy produces and distributes natural home and personal care products in order to rehabilitate at-risk young adults. Messy Bessy provides disadvantaged youth with the education and business acumen that enables them to become agents of positive change in their communities.
Find out more about Messy Bessy at www.messybessy.com. |
The Story |
 Founder Krie Lopez with members of the Messy Bessy team
Krie Lopez founded Messy Bessy in 2007 with the initial aim to empower sexually abused girls by providing them with an education. Krie was inspired to found Messy Bessy after a visit to the Delancy Street Foundation imparted her with the realisation that businesses can be used to empower marginalised members of society.
The number of underprivileged youth in Manila, particularly girls vulnerable to sex trafficking, is escalating. Krie identified the integral role the lack of education plays in keeping them trapped in the poverty cycle. In response, she developed Messy Bessy to cater to the vital need for education for all marginalised youth. On the consumer-facing side, Messy Bessy’s products fill the market gap in affordable environmentally friendly home cleaning and personal care products. 60% of the Messy Bessy workforce are at-risk youth and they are compensated by Messy Bessy through individual mentorship, counselling, financial coaching, and a salary which is managed to cover all tuition and living expenses and grow a savings account. Messy Bessy started with an in-house high school diploma program, and then expanded to a holistic approach to more effectively empower the young adults they work with. Today Messy Bessy learners undergo the HOP programme, which consists of academic education, values education, work skills training, and work ethics training |
The Impact |
Since Messy Bessy was established in 2007 they have helped 132 young adults, awarded SGD $15,000 in scholarships, and supported 50 college scholars. In 2012 Messy Bessy formed a partnership with Manila Business College, further strengthening their education programme. In 2016, HOUSE was established as a spin-off non-profit organisation to further multiply the observed positive impact of Messy Bessy.
|