The Gift Box Project will be collected between 4-17 November 2025. Tyrrian Livesley continues to make a difference in children's lives over the last 29 years. We write an article each year and are happy to bring this cause to our readers' attention.
The gift box project is simple: You prepare presents, and they are taken to children in Eastern Europe who are enduring difficult times. "Our common goal is to make them happy", Tyrrian tells us.
A year has passed and the world is still topsy-turvy leaving many families in dire need. So we are reaching out for your help with the Gift Boxes.
We cannot help everyone, but we can at least help some of the children living through war in terrible conditions without clean water or heating, and winter not far off. This is such a hard life for young children, many without the love of their families.
Let us give a little joy, happiness and laughter to as many needy children as we can in Ukraine and in Moldova. Last year with your help we sent almost 2,500 Gift Boxes to children, bringing them a little light, and a lot of love. Hopefully with your aid we can do even better this year!
Please help us by making a Gift Box brimming with their needs (see list below). Your donation - whether a complete box, a selection of the contents, or a monetary contribution - will certainly enable more of these youngsters to smile.
“One more box = one more happy child.”
Jillian, Erica, and Emi
We recently were informed of an English-speaking directory showcasing health services for pregnancy and postpartum in the Geneva area. We caught up with Erica, Jillian, and Emi.
Jillian Aragon explained, “When I first arrived in Geneva, I faced the challenges of navigating a new environment with no knowledge of the language or the local maternity healthcare system. As a doula, I envisioned being able to connect my clients to like-minded professionals who shared my passion for supporting physiological birth and holistic health practices. Over time, I met incredible providers and realized there was a genuine need for a comprehensive free resource guide to connect women with compassionate, holistic care.”
Have you been working on this idea forever, or was it something that came to you recently?
She goes on to say, “The concept of offering a free resource didn’t fully form until I crossed paths with Erica and Emi. At first, I envisioned creating a guide for my private business, and then I considered partnering with one of the international organizations here in Geneva to refresh their resource page for English-speaking families. But as the idea grew, I realized that to bring it to life in a meaningful and sustainable way, I needed a strong, connected, and creative team of women to help weave this vision into a resource that could truly serve the community.”
From the Heart2Heart team
As we reflect on the past year, we are humbled by the moments of resilience, compassion, and hope that define our journey. Since 2023, Heart2Heart Crisis Line (H2H) remains committed to being a beacon of support for individuals navigating life’s toughest moments, and we could not do it without you.
In 2024, we responded to over 1200 calls from individuals in crisis; more than 2000 calls in the last 2 years.
Each call represents a life touched, a story heard, and an opportunity to listen.
One of our callers was struggling with the divorce and custody of their young child and called our H2H line. Our team member provided encouragement and a listening ear and together, they are able to name the things that bring joy and clarity.
Another caller shared their work challenges with a colleague and at the end of the call expressed that they had a plan of action to advocate for themselves and more importantly, they felt heard.
Since time began, security blankets and soft toys have been the bane of most parents' existence. The dependance and comfort a child gets from this attachment has long been studied by doctors, scientists, psychologists, and psychiatrists! They refer to them as transitional psychological supports that give concrete emotional reassurance. Yes, on one hand, there are real advantages; on the other, tantrums and stress when they are lost, missing, in the wash, or tattered to the point of no return can be disturbing. A beloved stuffed animal, a soft edged blanket, or a scrap of fabric that is unrecognizable to the average beholder is a must-have accessory in the sight of the youngster!
In English, the proper names and synonyms are often altered by the child but start off as:
- blankie
- softie
- comfie
In French, they fall under the following appellations:
- doudou
- toutou
- nin-nin
- peluche
Of course, these names are often renamed by the child.
Lois Vitry Trapman, 9D Breathwork Facilitator
We have known Lois Vitry Trapman since 2019 when we wrote an article about Royal Bloom florist shop in Lausanne at this link. We got to know Lois better when The Fish Club opened in Geneva in 2021 (now closed) at this link. Following this talented, beautiful, humble, and personable lady has been an inspiration and we are delighted to let our readers know about her new venture, BloominBreath. She explained it to us below.
How did you get started in breathwork?
I have always cared about people, about wellbeing, about betterment. What we do with bretahwork can result in the same amount of work of years of psychotherapy... It has transformed me and I believe in it so much that I wanted to be able to teach others how they can transform their lives in a positive way.
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?
So far everything has been aligning in my life regarding this path. I feel drawn to it and it feels natural. Breathwork is not very well known but I think it is so important to your wellbeing that it should be taught in schools! It is something that needs to be explained as it is not very common yet.
What is the definition of Breathwork?
There is nothing like breathwork and its not just meditation or breathing calmly. Its breath WORK, I have been utilizing breath throughout my life. I started running with my father when I was 6 years old, and I practice apnea diving whenever possible.
I discovered "breathwork" itself in Bali during a life changing voyage, and i have decided to share this beautiful knowledge since.
In layman terms Wikipidia describes Breathwork as a term for various breathing practices in which the conscious control of breathing is said to influence a person's mental, emotional, or physical state, with a therapeutic effect.
The 9D method is one of a kind, mixing hypnosis bibaural beats voice coaching, and other methods to help you feel and deal with imprinted traumas and limiting beliefs in order to become a better you.
