PEOPLE living with a disability will now have the chance to shine through their skills thanks to a new social enterprise program at Sunshine Butterflies.
The new initiative will trial a social innovation approach to product and job creation with participants given the opportunity to share their skills, passions and creativity with their community through creative and sustainable products and services.
Sunshine Butterflies founder and CEO Leanne Walsh said the new initiative will provide employment pathways and purpose for members who may feel excluded from the workforce.
“With the help of our support staff, individuals will now have the chance to put their skills into practice and produce innovative and creative products and services for positive social change in a supportive and educational environment,” she said.
“We will create a range of unique and bespoke Noosa products to fulfil the diverse needs and interests that already exist within our region, giving further opportunity for us to eventually develop and mentor individual start-up businesses through our partnerships that will provide further opportunities and outcomes.”
Former Noosa councillor Sandy Bolton said Sunshine Butterflies is consistently leading the way in innovative approaches to sustainability and said it has been a wonderful journey working alongside their dynamic team.
“The social innovation process has been both invigorating and educational, capturing both the passion and perception of people with differing interests and abilities,” she said.
“Demonstrating how we can enrich quality of life and environmental outcomes through economic models is very much part of all our futures.”
All proceeds from the social enterprise products will go directly back to Sunshine Butterflies programs and initiatives to benefit members living with a disability, providing choice, skills, education, opportunity and inclusion.
The Sunshine Butterflies social enterprise will showcase its products at the Christmas in Cooroy event on Saturday 3 December.
