By Jamie Salter
South East Melbourne business Myella Group is breaking through preconceived barriers of what people can achieve by inspiring local community members to reach their goals.
Owner Sabrina M.J. Constantin launched the business Myella Believe and Achieve with the focus on empowering individuals, regardless of their differences.
Sabrina is vision impaired, and said she discovered her condition at a crucial time in her life.
“It was really hard for a 16 year old to have all that thrown at her,” she said.
“I was told by a teacher “due to your vision impairment you should spread your Year 12 over two years”, well, I would have none of that and I just found ways to adapt in school.”
Sabrina has since made it her mission to motivate others and help people realise their full potential through products, programs and publications.
Myella Clothing was launched in 2016 after Sabrina saw her children’s talented drawings.
She decided to add uplifting quotes to the images and print them on t-shirts, journals and mugs in the hopes of motivating her community.
“My children are my inspiration and I want to make sure there’s a better outcome for them,” she said.
“I’m hoping people will become more aware, understanding and inclusive of everyone – it’s about understanding that everyone is different.”
Myella Group has been involved in community programs including ‘In the Driver’s Seat’, organised by Vision Australia and the Warrandyte Lions Club in 2019, which allows people who are blind or have low vision the chance to experience what it is like to drive a car.
The business also ran the Exercise Creating Wellness program in 2019 at Aveo Hampton Heath Retirement Village to advocate and practice exercises for the elderly.
Programs have been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the business recently supported the Movember campaign and encouraged women to raise awareness and funds as well as men.
“We’re a community business trying to create a voice or people who are disadvantaged and we try to get involved in seasonal events,” administration assistant Ravi Seneviratne said.
“We raised some money for Movember and it felt really good, even though we’re mainly women based, they’re not the only ones we need to focus on.”
Looking ahead, the business plans to expand and get back into the community.
“It’s slowly developing and I’d like to see the local community get behind us,” Sabrina said.
Sabrina has been working to release a book of inspirational quotes and 2022 motivational journals.
She previously published a book called ‘Budgeting 101 – Empowering Children to Become Financially Independent’, which teaches children how to look after their money from a young age and a poetry book called ‘Life Lessons’ based on Sabrina’s personal experiences.
For more information about Myella Group, visit myellagroup.com
