UNITY Together with Louis Vuitton and Unicef, Datuk Nicol vows to raise awareness on the struggles children face. Top by Louis Vuitton
“I WANT TO HELP MORE GIRLS IN OUR COUNTRY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR SELF-WORTH AND TO LEARN TO LOVE THEMSELVES BETTER”
foundation is currently in its initial planning stage and I am hoping to have it up and running by the end of the year,” Datuk Nicol shares with enthusiasm. Besides her own foundation and despite her busy schedule, Datuk Nicol David recently collaborated with Louis Vuitton, as the brand partners with the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef ) to help children in need. Called the Louis Vuitton Make A Promise campaign, it aims to raise funds for Unicef and help support children who are exposed to conflict, diseases, natural disasters and other situations that threaten their safety and well-being. “I saw this as a great initiative by Louis Vuitton. As a big fashion brand, getting involved with Unicef to show that they can play a huge role in getting the message of their campaign across the globe and within Malaysia was something that caught my attention. Louis Vuitton recognised my role as National Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program in Malaysia and have given me the opportunity to make this campaign worthwhile, and for that I am truly grateful,” she expresses. “Louis Vuitton’s Make A Promise campaign is one way to raise awareness on the struggles that these vulnerable children in many countries face today; they need urgent attention and help. This campaign sends a very strong message, acknowledging that every one of us can play a role in one way or another to make a difference, by making a promise to share this message with others, or by actually getting involved with the campaign and purchasing a Louis Vuitton silver lockit jewellery, where proceeds will help by providing aid, care and protection to these little children who are in desperate need,” Datuk Nicol explains. Sharing similar values to Louis Vuitton, Datuk Nicol says she feels a connection to the brand because Louis Vuitton sets a high standard in their approach with fashion, and their fundamental values come with delivering the very best quality in everything they produce. “I can relate to that because being at the top of my game in squash means I have to deliver my best all the time and Louis Vuitton projects the very same values in every way. When I was selected as one of their inspirational women for their previous project, I was truly honoured to be part of it and also to be associated with the brand,” Datuk Nicol says.
GIVING BACK TO MALAYSIA When asked about plans after retirement, Datuk Nicol discloses a matter-of-factly, “I would like to start my own squash academy, while I am still competing, so that the academy will be established and running properly by the time I retire. It will focus on giving kids a chance to play squash and provide them with funding to attend competitions when they show progress.” She plans to bring in experts, people that she has worked with, to get the academy started. She will also mentor new aspiring coaches and give them a good base to share the basics of the game properly, with the kids who come to the academy. “Hopefully it all goes well, because I would like to spread my academy around Malaysia, as I want to give back to my country for all that it has given me, which got me to where I am today.” A Malaysian through and through, Datuk Nicol’s dream is to see squash being played in every school in Malaysia as a co-curriculum activity. A true heroine of the country, Datuk Nicol has done the country proud and will continue to do so in the time to come.
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