Karla Karaitiana/Things
Young Enterprise Scheme student Mak Durey, 17, started Mii, a gift box business in honor of her mother who committed suicide.
A teenage businesswoman is donating the profits from her young entrepreneurial business to mental health, after losing her mother to suicide at a young age.
Mak Durey, 17, lost her mother when she was just 11 years old and now wants to do everything she can to prevent others from experiencing the same pain.
The Marton student is donating the proceeds from her line of pampering gift boxes to the Mental Health Foundation.
“I just wanted to be able to help in some way, because let’s face it, New Zealand has a terrible track record when it comes to suicide.
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“I wanted to support the work that the mental health foundation does to try to stop more people from taking their own lives, and this was one way I thought I could help.”
She named her new company ‘Mii’ after her mother’s nickname, and the gift boxes include creams and lotions.
“I wanted to be able to honor her, and naming my business after her was one way to do that.”
Karla Karaitiana/Things
A Mii gift box of pamer goodies. There are versions aimed at women, men and a general option.
Mak was one of 20 business studies students who attended the Lion Foundation Young Business Scheme market night at the Te Manawa museum in Palmerston North on Thursday.
Young Enterprise Scheme Manager Emilee Watson said the program gives students the opportunity to channel their inner entrepreneur and gain first-hand experience in the start-up industry by allowing them to create and run a real business.
Each company develops its own product or service and then markets it.
More information about Mii gift boxes, please visit Instagram Or email [email protected].
Where to get help:
- 1737, do you need to talk? Call toll-free or text 1737 to speak with a trained counselor.
- anxiety new zealand 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)
- depression.org.nz 0800 111 757 or text 4202
- kids line 0800 54 37 54 for people up to 18 years old. Open 24/7.
- Life line 0800 543 354
- Mental Health Foundation 09 623 4812, Click here to access their free resource and information service.
- Rural Support Trust 0800 787 254
- samaritans 0800 726 666
- Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- yellow cobblestone road 0800 732 825
- thelowdown.co.nz Web chat, email chat or free text 5626
- What’s the matter 0800 942 8787 (for young people from 5 to 18 years old). Phone counseling available Monday through Friday from noon to 11 pm and weekends from 3 pm to 11 pm Online chat is available from 3 pm to 10 pm daily.
- youth line 0800 376 633, free text 234, email [email protected] find online chat and other support options here.
- If it’s an emergency, Click here to find the number of your local crisis assessment team.
- In a life-threatening situation, call 111.
