Janice Inducil always wanted to start a business but also wanted to have an impact on our society. Inspired by companies like the ThankYou Group and Who Gives a Crap, she launched her very own social enterprise Kandila Company in March 2017, with the goal of giving back to organisations that provide education to children in developing nations.
“I believe we as consumers have started to become more aware of the environmental and societal impacts of our purchases and businesses also started to take notice,” she says.
“As a consumer, I wanted to contribute in some way to the betterment of our society and so I choose products that allow me to help uplift the lives of others simply by buying products from social enterprises.”
Kandila Company creates artisan soy candles and donates 50 per cent of its profits to organisations that provide education to children in developing nations. Inducil has been collecting candles for as long as she can remember so she decided to learn how to make one.
“I immediately fell in love with the candle-making process and began to make some for friends and family. Soon enough, orders started to come in and I knew it was the beginning of something amazing.
“Growing up in the Philippines exposed me to the struggles and injustices faced by my less fortunate countrymen. Knowing that lack of access to education is one of the root causes for the endless cycle of poverty and marginalisation not just in the Philippines but also in all developing nations, I was determined to contribute and help fight poverty at its core.
“I believe that by providing everyone with equal access to schools, we can help some of these children have an opportunity to lift themselves, their families and break the grip of poverty. To be able to give back to a cause that you hold so dearly from a small business that you’ve started from the ground up is the best feeling,” she says.
Launching a small business is never easy and finding reliable and ethical suppliers for her social enterprise took Inducil almost two years. When the pandemic hit she realised how her supply chain can be easily disrupted.
“I have underestimated the importance of stocking up and maintaining a good amount of raw materials in case anything happens, ensuring that the business will continue to be able to meet demands.
“The restrictions in 2020 have affected my raw materials suppliers and the limitations to the supply chain halted my ability to meet wholesale orders. I had to turn down so many opportunities but I’m grateful that the government was there to support my small business and that things are starting to pick up again.
“I’m hoping for Kandila Company to slowly recover from the loss in 2020 and continue to grow as this will allow my small social enterprise to reach and help as many children all over the world as possible,” she adds.
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