Stranger’s kindness inspires designer
Treana Peake is the founder of Obakki and Obakki Foundation. On May 10, Obakki and Holt Renfrew host the Walk for Water fashion show and fundraiser for projects in South Sudan
‘It continues to amaze me how lives are completely transformed by something as simple as water,’ says designer Treana Peake, whose foundation raises money to get clean drinking water to South Sudan. JASON PAYNE/PNG
Q What is the goal of The Obakki Foundation?
A We believe a safe, reliable source of water is the foundation for growth in all other areas of life. With clean water, communities in Africa can do more than just survive; they can thrive. Conflict is reduced between communities desperate for clean water, people who were drinking from filthy puddles of contaminated muck are healthier, children can go to school and women can care for their families rather than spending hours searching for water, crops and livestock can be cultivated, economies can develop … all of these things start with clean water.
Q What does the name mean?
A There is no meaning — Obakki was just a word created by us that had no Google hits, so we were able to brand it to us specifically.
Q When you look at the Obakki Foundation’s legacy, what makes you the most proud?
A. I’m proud that the Obakki Foundation has brought clean water to over a million people by ensuring that 100 per cent of all donations and proceeds go directly to our projects.
Q Do you remember the first act the foundation successfully completed?
A Absolutely. We drilled a borehole in the village of Alel Chok, where people were very sick from drinking dirty water. I sat with an elder named Zacharia while he held my hand and read to me in his native language. Although we didn’t understand each other’s words, we formed an incredible bond that day and, from that moment, I vowed to never abandon the people of South Sudan. I’ve returned to Alel Chok every year since then and it continues to amaze me how lives are completely transformed by something as simple as water.
Q What were your biggest ‘ah-ha’ moments in both fashion and your charitable work?
A My biggest ah-ha moment in fashion was simply being able to let go of what others thought about what I was doing. Fashion can be quite a hard world to live in and you always have many critics. In the end, at a certain stage of your career, you begin to realize you are still here for a reason and your success really doesn’t have anything to do with those who believed you wouldn’t make it.
Regarding my charitable work, I honestly can’t put my finger on a single ah-ha moment. I’ve always known that this is what I was meant to do. In fact, I think that rather than ah-ha moments, I experience moments of affirmation, where I’m overwhelmed by a sense of purpose, belonging and commitment to continuing on this path. My life is extremely enriched because of all of the people I’ve been fortunate enough to meet along the way. And never have I felt more connected to our world than I do right now because of the work I’m doing.
Q What was the reasoning behind helping the people of the South Sudan and Cameroon?
A I have always been involved in philanthropy for as long as I can remember. As a young child, I was the recipient of an anonymous act of kindness, although, at the time, it seemed like a quiet act that was intended only for my mom and me. In reality, it became the catalyst for unbelievable change in the lives of many.
Every year, an envelope of money was slipped under our front door. This envelope helped get us through the year. There was never a return address or note — just a plain white envelope with money in it. Without that money, there would’ve been no birthday or Christmas presents, no food on our table, maybe not even a roof over our heads. To us, that envelope was everything, when there was nothing.
I’ve wondered over the years why someone would be quiet about such an incredible act of generosity — never receiving any thanks, recognition or praise.
This benevolent stranger became the benchmark for who I wanted to become and for how I chose to live my life.
Q Does this part of the world inform your designs?
A Obakki collections are not influenced designwise by the countries we support, but the two are certainly connected in heart as Obakki covers 100 per cent of all administrative fees, allowing 100 per cent of OF donations to go directly toward our projects. We also have our Scarves for Water program, where we assign a limited-edition scarf colour to a particular village and once 500 scarves are sold, we drill a water well in that village.