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ZAZEN: A SOCIAL BUSINESS

zazen is a Social Business Enterprise focused on every child in Australia and New Zealand drinking the very best water all day, every day.

A social business enterprise is different in that our work is focused first on maximising social returns within a profitable framework. We have chosen this business model through being inspired by the work of Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank, banker to the poor, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

As social business entrepreneurs, we are totally committed to making a positive difference in our world, starting with children, drinking the right quality and quantity of water so that we can help educate and reverse the health trends that sees us as one of the world’s unhealthiest nations.

So we launched the zazen Water Ambassador School Program which is funded 100% from the profits of our business.

ZAZEN WATER AMBASSADOR
SCHOOL PROGRAM

Janet Parker,
CEO of zazen with students from Kimberley Park State School in Brisbane doing fun water experiments in class.

We became aware of the health and longevity issues facing our children. This generation, if current trends continue, will be the first in modern history to have a shorter lifespan than their parents.

We became aware that 1 in 6 children have a learning and behavioural disability.

We became aware that 1 in 6 children suffer from a respiratory illness, and that asthma is our leading chronic disease among Australian children.

We became aware that 1 in 4 children are overweight or obese in Australia, and that 1 in 2 of their parents are overweight or obese. The impact of our modern diet (processed foods, preservatives, additives, chemicals, etc) and sedimentary lifestyles of our children impacts the longevity and quality of their life.

We became aware that 80 years ago, the percentage of the population diagnosed with cancer was 1 in 50. Today, the statistics are 1 in 3, trending towards 1 in 2. This is the position children being born today are faced with. Where do we go from 1 in 2?

We became aware of the impact our modern environment has on the quality of health and wellbeing of our children - through the pollutants and poisons in the water and beverages they drink and the poor quality air they breathe, every day.

We became aware that the umbilical cord of a new born baby today was measured to have over 300 carcinogenic chemicals in it – already. And that our clean family homes have over 200 cancer causing chemicals in them.

We became aware that there was no initiative we could find anywhere in Australia that was focused on the importance of child hydration. There are initiatives on the food they eat, but not on the quality of the most fundamental important nutrient to all life — water!

And that's when we decided to do something about it. It's called the zazen Water School Program.

WHAT IS A SOCIAL BUSINESS?

zazen Water is a Social Business Enterprise co-creating wellness conscious communities.


Social business enterprise n enterprises/corporations seeking not just revenue but social returns, and returning the profits to the communities where they operate.

Co-creating v to make something together; to bring something into existence together.

Wellness n a choice to take responsibility for the quality of your life. Total wellness is an active process of becoming aware of choices and making decisions to achieve balance across all areas of your life including: physical, mind, relationships, community and spiritual; to achieve a fulfilling joyful life.

Conscious v aware or awake; knowing and perceiving.

Communities v a group of people who are unified through their intention but operate with diversity of expression.