Nia Sogaard, a junior, uses her spare time to hand-make necklaces, earrings, and waist chains while donating a portion of her profit to GoFundMe accounts for the Black Lives Matter and three charities of her choice.
“Imagine what it’s like to not know how you’re going to eat the next day or whether you’ll get shot and killed for your skin color. I realized how extremely fortunate I am to never have to worry about these things. I have all the time in the world, so I wanted to make a difference. When I heard that a majority of donations towards Black Lives Matter charities were under $20, I realized I didn’t need to be a millionaire philanthropist, so I started making jewelry and donating what I made,” said Sogaard.
Sogaard spends upwards of two to three hours per day by stringing tiny beads on elastic string, an hour or two bending wires for earrings, and an hour beading a thin wire necklace while incorporating lots of pearls and crystals into her pieces.
“I think the quality and the pricing are great, and I know she donates a percentage of the price. I think that’s awesome,” said Sierra Aungst, who bought a pair of Sogaard’s mushrooms hoop earrings.
So far, she has donated over $175 to three charities: Save The Children, Women For Women, and We Are Navajo.
“I chose Save the Children after hearing that 85,000 children died because of the Yemen Crisis… I find it unbearable that children have to go through so much suffering. I chose We are Navajo because the Navajo contribute so much to the society that stole their land, and… they are horribly treated,” said Sogaard.
Women for Women focuses on bringing women together in a safe space to learn life, business, and vocational skills. Save the Children provides aid for Yemen and offers medical services and education to children from Kenya to Japan. We Are Navajo works to make healthcare comprehensive, self-empowered, and culturally-sensitive. They are focused on getting resources like food and water to those who’re struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Kimber Elements promote economic stability and gender equality by paying the artisans fair wages, enabling them to support their families and provide quality education for their children,” said Kimber Leblicq, owner of Kimber Elements.
Nia sells her jewelry on Depop. She can be found on the account niastuck. On Instagram, her account naviaajewelry advertises her pieces and will be linking a website soon.