Accessorising children’s hearing aids

Inspirational 11-year-old Eden Falk will pitch his business idea “that could change the world for many others” to a panel of Bondi Shark Tank judges this week.

Falk was born with hearing loss and wears hearing aids. He’s on a quest to make other children with hearing aids feel more comfortable by turning Jibbitz – the wildly popular charms for Crocs shoes – into Hibbitz.

Moriah students have already donated more than 100 Jibbitz, which Falk transforms into Hibbitz that he said act like a decorative shield to block the mould of the hearing aid.

“The whole point is to make children feel comfortable,” said Eden. “I have met people with hearing aids who don’t want to wear them because it makes them feel different. That’s why I want to make them feel comfortable with Hibbitz.

“It’s Jibbitz, but to decorate hearing aids and each Hibbitz has its own personality for everyone’s character trait.”

Proceeds from the sale of Hibbitz will go to The Shepherd Centre, a world-leading provider of specialists who help children with hearing loss learn to listen and speak.

A couple of years ago Falk represented The Shepherd Centre and made a speech for the then Governor-General, describing how instrumental his therapists there have been for him and his family.

“When I was a few months old, I visited it for the first time,” Falk recalled during his speech.

“I made lots of friends who wore hearing aids just like me. The Shepherd Centre helped me in life and gave me the confidence to speak and be social with others.”

During the same speech, Falk said he hopes to become an entrepreneur – a step he has already taken.

In Australia, more than 11,000 children under the age of 12 wear hearing aids and Falk’s message to them is “be your unique self”, and he is hoping Hibbitz will help them embrace that.

Falk has also been invited to meet NSW Premier Chris Minns to tell him about his business idea and also to thank him for his support of the Jewish community.