Born and raised in New Zealand, JJ Stranan now resides in Brisbane. JJ is the the owner and operator of Global Kids oz.com.au & Recycledmats.com.au. She was nominated for Queensland Women of the Year 2011, and Top Achievers Award in 2005. She is passionate about bringing people of all cultures together through her two online business

Kiwisinoz caught up with JJ to find out more about her online businesses and her passion of bringing cultures together.

1. Tell us about your business globalkidsoz.com.au
Global Kids Oz is a website dedicated to providing educational resources relevant to almost every country in the world.

Australia is a culturally diverse country and teachers are required to teach multiculturalism as a subject in schools here. It’s also common for teachers to have one or more students from another country – some of whom speak no English at first.

Global Kids Oz supplies resources that in many cases have been sourced from the actual country they’re relevant to. For example, instead of just reading a book about toys or games children use in other countries, parents and teachers who purchase products from Global Kids Oz can bring to the school or home the actual games, books and other items the children in those countries use.

2. What is the website’s mission?
To help foster education about, and understanding of, different cultures, as education leads to understanding about cultural differences; understanding leads to tolerance and empathy; and tolerance and empathy leads to kinder, more caring communities.

3. What products can be purchased from your globalkidsoz.com.au website?
A vast range of multicultural educational resources, such as books, games, puzzles, artwork, flags, ethnic dolls and much more; sourced from countries around the globe.

4. Who is your target market?
Child care centres and schools, to encourage and support cultural education. Through education, respect and understanding can be learnt, which, when taken into adult life, can create positive opportunities for all.

5. How did you get on board with this inspiring business?
I’m passionate about cultural understanding. I’ve travelled widely, have lived in many countries, and I know that, as humans, we all have the same basic needs in life. All the rest is just cultural overlay and different ways of looking at the world around us. I want to encourage others to see that “different” doesn’t mean “wrong”, and that it actually means “interesting, intriguing, and an opportunity to learn something new.”

6. What message would you like to promote about this website?
That it’s a website like no other, and if somebody looking for an educational resource from a specific culture, you’ll probably find it at Global Kids Oz. On the website, there is also a vast range of free articles about different cultures and traditions which I encourage people to read, print and use at anytime.

7. Tell us about your very popular website, recycledmats.com.au
This website features a range of mats made from recycled materials, including polypropylene and old car tyres. The mats feature Aboriginal, Maori and Polynesian cultural designs and can be shipped to anywhere in the world.

We are also looking at doing an African range of mats too, where we shall donate a portion of the each mat sold to a charity in Africa.

8. Tell us about the products that you sell on your website
The mats are perfect for child care centres and schools, but are also good for using at home or on picnics or at the beach, as they can simply be hosed clean. They’re designed in Australia and New Zealand by people indigenous to these countries and they provide a practical, affordable and environmental recycled solution to any situation where a mat is called for.

Whether they’re used as reading mats in schools, play mats in kindergartens, welcome mats at a front door, hard-wearing mats for a rumpus room at home, or some other purpose, they are simply perfect!

9. How did you come up with the concept?
I started to sell a few mats, as I liked them myself for my own home. I quickly realised they were popular and extended the range to support cultural education by designing mats that reflected a range of cultures. Being a Kiwi myself, I have that extra special connection to Aotearoa so I’m further extending my design range to reflect more Maori & Kiwi culture.

10. Do you custom design mats?
I started out by bringing in a few designs, but now I co-design 90 per cent of the mats myself. I also contract Indigenous artists to create designs exclusively for Recycled Mats and Global Kids Oz.

11. What are the mats made out of?
Recycled PET bottles, car tyres, or recycled polypropylene, which comes from old supermarket shopping bags and the like. Not only are the mats culturally friendly, they’re also friendly to the planet.

12. Which is your most popular mat?
At present, the Kia Ora Mats are our most popular. Last year, however, it was the Koru range. I do get the feeling, though, that our new Indigenous Australian range will be very popular, as the designs are one of a kind and simply gorgeous.

13. The Maori culture in NZ is strong, how can Australia increase visibility of the Aboriginal culture?
Visibility of Aboriginal culture is steadily increasing in Australia. For example, it’s now commonplace to include Aboriginal elders in all public events by way of having them deliver a Welcome to Country speech or ceremony.

The traditional owners of the land on which the event is taking place are always acknowledged. The Aboriginal flag flies in a range of locations and educational institutions are now recognising the need to indigenise.

There is still more that could be done, however, and Global Kids Oz is doing its part by providing over 180 Aboriginal books, games, puzzles, musical instruments, and more to help increase visibility of this ancient culture.

                                                               

14. Tell us about the many accolades you received in 2011?
I have been lucky enough to be honoured through several child care centres in Queensland with gifts made by the children & carers to thank me for my contribution to their centres including a handmade Aboriginal flag gifted to me at NAIDOC Week celebrations from Little Legends ELC in Dakabin - This would be one of my highlights of business to date. I felt deeply humbled.

15. How do you promote your businesses?
Through Facebook, Early Childcare conferences, and Google marketing. Many people are also now referring my businesses on to others, and I get a lot of repeat and referral business.

16. How are indigenous people represented in the products you sell?
As far as possible, we purchase the majority of our resources and designs from people who are from the relevant culture. For example, we have a range of Aboriginal dolls that are made in India, but I source them from a local Aboriginal family in Queensland. So I know the dolls are culturally sensitive or the family would not be on-selling them; and I also know an Aboriginal person receives a portion of each sale.

I also contract many Indigenous people from both Australia and New Zealand and other countries to work with me on various projects. This ensures that the resources are all culturally sensitive and I also know that some monies are passed onto people who are from that culture and that is important to me.

17. Where is your favourite place in NZ?
There are so many that it’s hard to name just one. I love Piha, Kerikeri, Wanaka, the Able Tasman National Park, or wherever my friends and family are!

18. What is the best thing about NZ?
The people, culture, lifestyle and green, clean image it has and the taste of Feijoas from the backyard!

19. What makes you proud to be a Kiwi?
Winning the World Cup! Well, that's a given after recent events in New Zealand. Although we may be a small nation, we have incredible pride and belief in ourselves. Of course New Zealand is not perfect, but compared with many other countries, New Zealanders support each other and are hard workers. My dad always used to say to me: “Kiwi's work hard and play hard”. I like that!

20. Finish this sentence: “The first thing I do when I visit New Zealand is …
”… put on a jersey! Ha ha! Well, although that is most probably true, usually I breathe a sigh of relief and happiness and I say to myself: "Yay, I am home again! Gosh I miss this place!"

http://www.recycledmats.com.au/

http://www.globalkidsoz.com.au/