The Meraki Foundation, an umbrella for those passionate about the art |09 June 2017

“The Meraki Foundation is a group of passionate people who want to solve issues using the art.”

This is how Alexandria Faure describes her newly-launched ‘The Meraki Foundation’ during an event last Saturday evening at the Kaz Zanana.

The Meraki Foundation came about after she had seen how the art impacts on communities, how it’s changed people’s lives. And when she came back from university she wanted to start a foundation, a company that can somehow use the art to change lives and to really empower people because she said she has seen how it has changed people’s lives and also hers.

She said Meraki is about putting your soul, putting your love and putting your creativity into something so that you can touch the life of the other person. And that is what the word Meraki (Greek word) means.

The foundation consists of a group of five other art enthusiasts ‒ Colin Woodcock, co-founder; Nandita Nair, treasurer; Velma Cafrine, secretary; and Andre Katombe, development officer. It is aimed at being a platform to bring artists together ‒ be they poets, singers, dancers, or other artists who use art as an expression.

British High Commissioner Caron Röhsler was among the distinguished guests at the launch.

Various activities to raise fund for the foundation were organised, notably an auction sale of items of valuable worth from sponsors of the foundation. The event had as its main sponsors Diamond Works (Seychelles), Takamaka Bay and Castle Lager.

“Meraki is about using the arts to engage people, helping them realise their dreams is a very good idea. Sometimes in society, just giving people facts and information is not good enough. When people are happy or sad, something like a poem or a song or a piece of art or a piece of theatre, can change a lot about the way they are thinking, feeling and can actually help them,” said Alexandria.

She added that when she moved back to Seychelles, she saw how expressive and talented and creative Seychellois people are.

“It was a dream of mine to create an initiative like that whereby we use the art to positively impact on communities,” she said, adding that she cannot imagine a society where art is not given its due importance.

As for Colin, he said the reason for creating Meraki is because art can be interpreted in different forms, in a positive way.

“We believe that through art we can address issues society is facing. Hence the reason for such a foundation,” he said.

According to another member of the foundation, Andre, he said Meraki can do wonderful things for Seychelles. As a country, we have so much talent, so much creative talent and do not always value arts and culture as much as we could do.

“I think what we need is some sort of vehicle to demonstrate the talent the country has to offer,” said Andre.

Nandita believes Meraki is a good idea and is an association the country really needs. One that will help in the use of art to address issues and problems in the community and hopefully at the national level,” she said.

Kelly Orphée performed some of her songs during the evening.

People or companies interested in contributing towards The Meraki Foundation can go on its website www.themerakifoundation.com; can donate online or can check them out on Instagram or Facebook or email at themerakifoundation@gail.com