Our Story
Every good idea starts with a touch of inspiration. A spark that ignites a flame – which can lead to real change. The spark that inspired Let’s Creaid was a simple game of cricket.
Back in 2007, I was travelling in at the foot of the Himalayas, in Leh, India. While on a walk taking photos of the old town, I passed courtyard where kids were playing cricket. And because I used to play cricket, I stopped to take a few pictures. Soon, the kids encouraged me to join them.
How could I help?
Happy and tired from our game of cricket, we all shouted our goodbyes. Only then did I realize that this courtyard was part of an orphanage. I couldn’t get it out of my mind, such a joyous time together – with so many kids in need. So later on I went back with some chips and candy for my teammates.
They were ectastic! And again, I couldn’t stop thinking about those orphans, and how I could help. So the next day, I went back and spoke with the manager. He told me all about the orphanage and the children. As we talked, that spark I’d felt began to fire me up inside. I really wanted to help! But how?
A jacket for a kid
In northern India, winter temperatures can drop to -25°C to -30°C (-13°F to -22°F). Now I knew what to do! I would try to buy every one of those orphaned children a winter jacket. Locally, a winter jacket cost about €10. But how was I going to manage to buy jackets for all those kids?
I turned to my friends and family. From Leh, I sent them all an email with the subject, “A jacket for a kid”. I told them my plan – to raise € 600. And I made the first seed donation of €100. Could they help me raise the remaining € 500, by simply donating the funds for one jacket.
It worked – and how!
In northern India, winter temperatures can drop to -25°C to -30°C (-13°F to -22°F). Now I knew what to do! I would try to buy every one of those orphaned children a winter jacket. Locally, a winter jacket cost about €10. But how was I going to manage to buy jackets for all those kids?
I turned to my friends and family. From Leh, I sent them all an email with the subject, “A jacket for a kid”. I told them my plan – to raise € 600. And I made the first seed donation of €100. Could they help me raise the remaining € 500, by simply donating the funds for one jacket.
Visit the Dutch website for A Jacket for a Kid – Een Jas Voor Een Kind.
About Charles Giesberger
The founder of Let’s Creaid is Charles Giesberger. Formerly global account director handling multi-million euro advertising accounts, he shifted his focus to internal change projects and teambuilding. Self-employed 1999, he works on assignments for large national and international companies.
As some strategies included volunteering, he quickly discovered its wonderful, collaborative power. On a business level – and a personal level. Interviews with HR managers at the top 15 employers in NYC confirmed his theory: community programs play an important role in increasing employee engagement and cultural change.
A big plus on CVs
Since 2012, he’s been working closely with the NGO, AIESEC, the world’s largest student-run organization. With “Create the Plus”, Charles aims to inspire students to go a step further during their volunteering internships, and create their own small-scale aid projects. It’s not only a great way to help others – it’s also a big plus on their CVs. The program is running successfully in the Netherlands, Belgium, US, China and Vietnam.
Other initiatives by Charles include being co-owner of the Chinese joint venture, Global Trinity Consulting, which offers services in culture care, business development and training and marketing Communication. And in keeping with his love of surfing, he created RedneckTurtle, a special collar for wind and kite surfers, to prevent wetsuits from making red rashes on necks.
By founding Let’s Creaid, he has created an inspiring yet pragmatic way for companies to tap into their people’s passion to help others, which benefits everyone – on a personal, community and company level.
per employee is earned in added value at companies that participate in community projects*
*Source: The Corporate Executive Board research
of millenials prefer working for a company that is committed to helping their community*
*Source: Imperative 2016
of CEOs rank employee engagement 3rd in achieving overall organizational goals*
*source: Harvard Business 2016
“Een bedrijfsuitje zoals een bedrijfsuitje behoort te zijn; goed voor de mensen, goed voor de teamspirit, goed voor ons bedrijf en bovendien goed voor de samenleving.”
Huib Arends
Lichtplanners
“The Create the Plus” workshop stak het vlammetje bij ons aan en dankzij alle donaties en hulp konden we de organisatie goed helpen. Zodat ze voor nu en in de toekomst betere leefomstandigheden voor de kinderen kunnen creëren.”
Hanneke van de Vijfeijke
Korn Ferry Hay Group
“The Create the Plus” workshop stak het vlammetje bij ons aan en dankzij alle donaties en hulp konden we de organisatie goed helpen. Zodat ze voor nu en in de toekomst betere leefomstandigheden voor de kinderen kunnen creëren.”
Hanneke van de Vijfeijke
Korn Ferry Hay Group
“Het helpen van mensen bleek een enorme impact te hebben en zeer krachtig te zijn en we voelen ons zeer bevoorrecht dat we dit uit de eerste hand hebben ervaren. Het was de beste vrijwilligerservaring die we ooit hebben gehad. Dus als je de Plus kunt creëren, twijfel er niet aan – help gewoon!”
Marie-Claire & Annelies
AIESEC ambassadors Maastricht
“De dankbaarheid die we ervoeren bij het overhandigen van de spullen bezorgede ons kippenvel. Het was ons nooit gelukt zonder de inspiratie en praktische hulp van Let’s Creaid”
Douwe, Kim and Rik
AIESEC Medicine Project
“De solidariteit en betrokkenheid van de mensen was ongelooflijk om te zien. Iedereen was blij en enthousiast. En daarom roep ik andere ondernemers op creatief te zijn en ook iets de doen voor de gemeenschap”
Boekhandel Blokker Heemstede
Arno Koek
“Het was een erg succesvol en interessant programma, voor alle betrokkenen. Erg goed georganiseerd en mooi afgerond”
Bryant Heng
ARCADIS