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Questions for start-ups: PURE!
Nicoline Westen, founder of PURE!
Nicoline Westen’s dream was to help kids in Cambodia lead a better life, the internet enabled her to make that dream a reality. She founded Pure!, a volunteer organisation that support children’s projects in Cambodia, be it financially or by providing helping hands. In our questions for start-ups series, she told thenextwomen how she started out.
1. How did you come up with the idea of your start-up?
My dream as a young girl was to start my own children’s house, later on I lost my dream but found it back travelling through Cambodia in 2007. I fell in love with the children of Cambodia, and back in The Netherlands I knew I had to do something. I changed my whole live to help children in Cambodia and create awareness towards volunteering by young people. The energy you get from the kids is amazing and all your dreams come true! I can not stop smiling when I am in Cambodia.
I founded PURE! for kids in December 2007 and since May 2008 we are offering volunteer opportunities in Cambodia. PURE! volunteer is our volunteer division and PURE! design is our fairtrade and childsafe products from Cambodia division that will be starting beginning 2009.
2. How do you compare to other volunteer projects?
PURE! is a NGO based volunteer organization based in The Netherlands, we support 100% the projects and children in need in Cambodia. We don’t think you need to pay thousands of euro’s to help volunteering. Most of the volunteer companies are charging so much and then you still have a lot of other costs. I don’t believe that’s necessary.
The projects in Cambodia are still all young projects that need help not only financially but also by volunteers. The kids don’t know anything about hygiene matters or going to school. We think that volunteers can make a difference together!
We believe that your help is very much needed and that you are the key. Don’t wait till you are grey, old or rich, you can do volunteering today!
PURE! is young, personal and transparent.
3. How has the internet helped you to set up this company?
PURE! volunteer can not exist without internet, we offer our volunteer opportunities through our website www.pureforkids.org and other volunteer needed sites. All promotion and publicity is now done by internet, so we reach not only our Dutch public but we are also growing outside the Netherlands offering volunteer work in Cambodia.
4. What was your biggest challenge during the development process and how can other start-ups learn from that?
Cambodia is one big challenge, where you learn everyday, and you need to be on top of the projects! I think you must know the country and projects to be able to offer volunteer work. Inside information is very important.
The biggest challenge in development is reaching the target group. The promotion and publicity of PURE! is very important to grow and let our projects in Cambodia continue. We depend on sponsors and volunteers at the moment.
5. Where so you want your company to be in 5 years?
PURE! for kids with both division PURE! volunteer and PURE! design will be only growing.
PURE! volunteer will expand not only within Cambodia but also to other countries in South East Asia and maybe even in other parts of the world. Requests are coming on daily basis, but I think it’s very important to arrange everything first in Cambodia and to keep the personal touch. At least another 1 ½ year I will be only offering volunteer work in Cambodia.
Since now I am still working from my living room, I see myself in my own office, with staff and with a little shop selling my own products by PURE! design to customers and wholesale. PURE! design webshop will be online beginning of 2009.
6. What is a ‘to watch’ company that you like in your sector?
The volunteer organization that I really like is “Be More”. They started very personal, and with lots of love for kids in South Africa. You can feel the positivity. They started 2 ½ years ago and are going very good and lots of volunteers applying. I dream of their success in my future with PURE!
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