Hendrikka Waage

Photo Credit: Vera Palsdottir

Meet The Designer

Icelandic entrepreneur, Hendrikka Waage, is an internationally known jewelry designer, philanthropist, children’s books author, global activist and campaigner for children. Internationally educated, Hendrikka has a BS degree in business, a MBA in international business and has studied art history at Oxford University. She has worked and lived in countries from Japan, to Russia, to India, the US, and the UK, where she lives now. Elegant, striking, and exquisitely crafted, her jewelry has graced the pages of international fashion magazines such as Vogue, Baazar, Marie Claire, and Elle, and many others.

Marrying both her talent for design and her commitment to education, Hendrikka is also co-founder and president of the international charity, “Kids’ Parliament.” With support from his Holiness The H.H. Dalai Lama, the charity’s aim is to reach children from all religions, beliefs and cultures and provide a wide, educational program for all abilities that fosters intellectual development, the arts, music, leadership and entrepreneurship and empower today’s global child. www.kidsparliament.org

Her desire to provide and promote educational opportunities has led to her to write her first series of children’s books which aim to educate children about their native culture as well as the different cultures of their peers. The first book in the series, entitled “Rikka and Her Magic Ring“, recounts the adventures of nine year old Rikka, who is gifted with a magical ring that transports her around her native Iceland.

This journey is a chance for children of all ages to explore the enchantment our world holds for Rikka and her friends as they are whisked through time and space by her magic ring. The book conveys a sense of childlike fun while also helping children to learn about another’s culture and geography. With beautiful illustrations by Inga Maria Brynjarsdottir, the book takes the reader through stunning volcanic landscapes, verdant seashores and essentially all that makes Iceland such a wonderful and exhilarating place for children to visit. As the author states, “if the book creates a desire for children to visit Iceland later in life, it will have fulfilled its purpose and made them more aware of the different cultures and customs that makes this world such a unique and exciting place.” “Rikka and her Magic Ring” has been Iceland’s best selling children’s book since its publication in 2009.

Building on the success of her first book, Hendrikka’s second book features the magic of India. The magic ring takes Rikka and her friend Rahul to many places in India such as, Delhi, old Delhi, Goa, Jaipur, Bengal, Mumbai, Agra, and more. The third book, Rikka and her magic ring in Japan, is coming out 2011. A part of the proceeds of the book will be donated to the Kids Parliament charity, which has the objective of creating a world in which children want to live, where respect for human rights and the environment is certain and where equal chances without discrimination are given to all. More information can be accessed at: www.kidsparliament.org