The idea for Maya Soele arose in the summer of 2021...
It was a big day when our son Frederik had to wear a cap. We put on our best clothes, bought champagne, macarons, roses, and little glasses with “student” written across them. Our youngest son William is an apprentice mechanic and was supposed to have the day off before. Luckily, he got home at the last minute, and I rushed him to change. But William didn’t want to change, but insisted on keeping his work clothes and cap on.
"That's not working, honey, you have to be nice. It's a big day," I tried again and again. Until William exclaimed:
"Mom. I'm proud to be a mechanic, that's why I keep my work clothes on"
It hit me! And I could feel traditions and culture knocking at my neck. Why did he absolutely have to change clothes? Why wasn't he allowed to wear his work clothes? Was it nicer to be a bookworm than a craftsman?
No! It's not! But why did I act like that?
When I was so used to what we usually do and it's always been like that, it's good to be pushed. Because suddenly I started to see the discrimination that was going on.
For example, when we went shopping for the big student party. There is a sea of festive decorations with "Student" on them. Napkins, mugs, garlands, posters, flags, figurines and I could go on.
But what if William graduates and we have to shop for his party?
We didn't find a single napkin, mug or anything else with "learned" on it. We found nothing!
This is not because William should have the same as Frederik, but the opportunity to choose for himself must be present.
But that option wasn't there.
Frederick and William 2021
I took a picture of our two sons that day. Frederik with his graduation cap on and William in his work clothes. Both equally proud of their choice of direction.
I wrote a post on LinkedIn about why there was such a big difference. Why do students occupy the most media attention, what about all those who are being trained? Why can't you buy decorations with "Trained" on them?
In no time, 400,000 had read my post, 13,000 liked it, and almost 300 had retweeted my post.
There must have been something going on, since the post got so much attention.
I am "just" a craftsman
Were some of the comments that came on my post. Others wrote: I read on from Sosu , It wasn't good enough to become a craftsman, etc. I skipped that. It simply can't be right that one should have to deal with the feeling that a vocational education wasn't good enough.
At that moment and with that feeling, my idea arose:
The vocational subjects and functions must have their very own (and well-deserved) recognition in the form of a figure that pays tribute to the individual subject in timeless Danish design.
It should be a visible recognition of completed education and of the craft profession.
A tradesmanship training typically takes 3-5 years, and there is a
A great deal of work goes into getting your journeyman's certificate. That effort is symbolized by the high quality of the wood and the uncompromising design.
The figurine was to be a lasting keepsake, not a throw-away item, but a beautiful figurine that one would proudly have standing out for time and eternity.
A figure that pays tribute to the profession and the education that has been completed.
At the bottom you can have a personal greeting engraved, either from parents, a coach or a trade union.
With an engraving, you can always read where and when you graduated for an eternal memory.