IT’S OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO
GIVE BACK TO THE
COMMUNITY
When circumstances happen in our life like a near death experience with breast
cancer it changes the way that we think about our future and how we spend those
precious moments with the ones we love. It also reminds us that we can each give
something special back to acknowledge the generosity of others who go the extra
mile to support those who are struggling to rebuild their lives. My unique custom-
designed jewellery is just one small way that I can inspire others to live the life of
their dreams with a little help from a caring and supporting community.
W
hen circumstances
happen in our life like a
near death experience
with breast cancer
it changes the way that we think
about our future and how we spend
those precious moments with the
ones we love. It also reminds us
that we can each give something
special back to acknowledge the
generosity of others who go the
extra mile to support those who are
struggling to rebuild their lives. My
unique custom-designed jewellery
is just one small way that I can
inspire others to live the life of their
dreams with a little help from a
caring and supporting community.
Kassandra Behrendt is a self-taught
fashion jewellery designer and
has been weaving her craft for 20+
years. It started out as a hobby. A
few pieces here and there. Design
a necklace to compliment this
outfit, design a pair of earrings to
compliment that outfit. Women
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Women’s Network Magazine
soon noticed and requested
their own custom-made pieces.
Suddenly Kassandra was in
demand and the hobby turned
into an actual business (much
to Kassandra’s surprise and
delight.)
After being diagnosed with
grade-3 breast cancer at the
age of 42, followed by a double
mastectomy, chemotherapy,
radiation, breast reconstruction
and depression, she decided to
take charge of her life instead of
being scared of her own shadow.
A survivor of childhood abuse
and with the added trauma of
her near-death experience with
breast cancer, Kassandra was
incredibly grateful to be alive.
She felt a strong desire to give
back. Give back to the other
survivors of breast cancer and to
help women and children who
are victims of domestic violence.
But how could she help? What
was she trained for? What could
she possibly do to ease the pain of
women and their children suffering
domestic violence?
Kassandra believes that we live a
privileged life here in Australia and
we have an obligation to give back
to our community and to those who
are less fortunate.
Over the years, Kassandra
volunteered at not-for-profit
organisations like Soroptimist
International (a volunteer women’s
organisation) as well as Australian
charities. Whilst volunteering,
Kassandra discovered that although
volunteers were a significant
asset, charities needed more than
volunteers. For these charities to
continue their efforts in supporting
survivors of domestic and family
violence they needed cold hard
cash!
Women have resilience, an inner
strength, but sometimes we need
support (emotional, financial) to
help us tap into that strength.