Bawi Phun Kul, Kenshi Candles - The vision, business and why

I'm always inspired to discover people working so hard to meet the need they see in the world, generally carved from their upbringing, challenges and perspectives - I got to sit down with Bawi Phun Kul, part of the Chin Refugee Community in Australia, and team member of Chin Life Changing Candles - https://chinlifechangingcandles.com.au

From the big vision to the business model, helping his own people and the why you should care, hear from Bawi as we discuss Kenshi; a simple idea with a tremendous amount of effort behind it - get on board as we approach corporate and personal gifting season!

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Transcript

- So, we're learning. All right, front of the chair. I could tell when you sat back. Phun Kul.

- Bawi--

- Phun Kul.

- Really excited to be here with Mr. Bawi Phun Kul, Sales and Marketing Coordinator for Chin Life-Changing Candles, and what is it about these candles that makes them special?

- This candle is not just a candle, it's about what it does. This candle is changing the life of the people who are most in need, so that's what's special about this candle.

- And how is it doing that? Because it's not getting up and running down the road to do something. What's the business model behind this?

- The business model behind this is to get people to buy this candle. Many people buy gifts for their family, or friends, or their loved ones. This candle is not about asking for donations, but to change the buying location. Instead of buying chocolates or other stuff for gifts, they can buy our candles, and at the same time, make a real difference for the life of the Chin people.

- I'm fairly sure all your profits are going back into supporting the Chin community. Is that the case?

- Yes, so half of our profit from this candle goes to Chin state in Myanmar, to help people there. Most of people over there are living under poverty line and struggling every day due to lack of food and medicines and other stuff. So the profit from this candle is going there to help the people over there.

- I am completely ignorant, I've learned so much in the last few hours, really, since walking into this, about the struggle of the Chin people and the 53 dialects in a state as big as Victoria, and in relative complete isolation. Could you tell me more about that? What's the journey to get back to your home village?

- Chin state is located in the northwestern part of Myanmar, which was formerly known as Burma. It's a very isolated area from the big cities in Myanmar. It's a very isolated area from the big cities in Myanmar. Chin state has, like you mentioned, more then 53 dialects in one state. You can go to another village just a few kilometres, and they speak different dialects. And also, due to isolated area and also, the government doesn't reach a lot of rural areas. the government doesn't reach a lot of rural areas. So Chin people are struggling for everything. There's no basic needs, and most of the villages, they don't have electricity, they don't have gas, and they don't have sustainable source of food or income. and they don't have sustainable source of food or income. People move around and doing farming on their own and then they survive from their own work. Recently, maybe because of climate change, Recently, maybe because of climate change, farming doesn't produce enough food for Chin people anymore. They've gone through a lot of famines and facing a lot of difficulties over there. But the government or other NGOs are not really reaching people over there to help them, so we have to step up and help our own people. So we are here to help them and we try to support them as much as we can.

- And my understanding was that folks like the Red Cross simply don't have physical access to the Chin people, is that the case? to the Chin people, is that the case?

- They have been there quite a long time, but due to political reasons, they didn't have access to Chin state or other ethnic groups in Myanmar. So, even though now we have a little bit of improvement in the government, they have access to bigger cities like Hakha, like Falam, but they still can't really reach rural areas like my village, the place I'm from. They aren't really able to reach villages.

- And one of the co-founders of Chin Life-Saving Candles took quite a long journey to get to Australia. What was your journey like?

- I went to Malaysia and lived there for four years, seeking asylum. I was able to come here in 2004, so it was quite a long journey, as well.

- What would you ask of people out there, communities, companies, businesses, in relation to Chin Life-Changing Candles, in relation to Chin Life-Changing Candles,

- We have a big vision to help the people back home. We literally want to get rid of poverty and liberate the Chin people from poverty. However, we can't do it by ourselves. So we need a lot passionate people, kind people's support, in order to achieve our goal and vision. So we really need all of your support. By buying some candles from us and, like I mentioned before, you don't have to spend extra money, you can just shift your buying location. Instead of buying other gifts, please come and buy our candles and make a real difference at the same time.

- If there's one thing you want people out there to know about Chin Life-Changing Candles, what would you tell them?

- Chin Life-Changing Candles are very good quality, very high in quality, and we have many different fragrances, and it smells really nice. So if you buy our candles, I'm sure you'll be very satisfied with the quality and I'm sure that the gifts you give to people, they will like, they will enjoy the smells and also, they will feel amazing knowing that this candle is making something different in the lives of needy people.

- For people out there who are busy, and who have their own problems, and are trying to make it in their work and career, and get by, why should they care?

- Because you don't have to come to our shop and buy the candles. You don't have to waste your time, you can jump onto our website, you can buy from your bed or you can buy from your kitchen, wherever you are. And we deliver to your door in the next two days.

- If you excuse me pushing you on this... Why should people care about helping others? What's the benefit of taking the time to help others? Why do you do it?

- Because we all want to do something different, right? So I always wanted to do something different, but I couldn't do by myself. I didn't know the way. So this candle is showing me the way to help people. So this candle is showing me the way to help people. I know everybody wants to help people, but they don't know the way. So this candle is the way to help people in need. And I think this is the best way.

- Thanks so much.

- Thank you.

- Beautiful, got it, yeah.

- Is there anything I haven't asked that you'd like to say?

- What was that?

- Maybe about why I choose to work for these candles, and also about the Chin people, where it's located, did I mention that?

- We've totally covered that. And we've covered why you want to work here. Because it's important and you help the people. I reckon we got it, that last bit, as well, and I'm going to sequence all this together now across and get, like a of everything.