Alaffia Supporter Interview, Jen Luck - First Alternative Co-op

Today we'd like to highlight Jen Luck of the First Alternative Natural Food Co-op in Corvallis, Oregon, a wonderful member of our Alaffia family.

In the earlier Alaffia years, Jen happened to meet Olowo-n'djo at a natural product trade show in Seattle, leading to the opportunity for her to tour the small Olympia facility.  That visit was definitely memorable for Jen - she enjoyed making soap with Rose, Alaffia co-founder and formulator, and even experienced some delicious Alaffia ingredients for lunch!  Jen loved the family friendly, easy going Alaffia vibe that she experienced that day, and her friendship with Rose and Olowo-n'djo continued to grow.

Shortly after Jen's visit to Olympia, Olowo-n'djo made a trip to First Alternative to share his life story and the Alaffia mission with Jen's team.  Jen was inspired by Olowo-n'djo's vision for his home country and his dedication to bringing tangible change to the impoverished communities that he grew up in.

Bicycles for Education Bike Part Drive display
at the First Alternative Co-op South

Since that training, Jen has done all she can to utilize her co-op to assist with Alaffia Community Empowerment Projects, most recently coordinating a bike part drive in support of our Bicycles for Education Program.  The bike part drive, held over the summer, was a natural fit for her bike-friendly community and co-op.  Jen hopes to host a bike drive in the future, and anticipates a wonderful response from her community.

As far as her favorite Alaffia products go - Jen is a self-confessed Alaffia Handwoven African Grass Basket fanatic - she admits that unpacking those shipments can be a bit dangerous for her, as she can't help but fall in love with at least one every time!  Jen keeps our Shea Butter Hand & Body Balm in her knitting basket, the EveryDay Shea body washes and lotions scattered throughout her home for a multitude of uses, loves our Antioxidant Face Care products, adores our Virgin Coconut Body Cream...I think it is safe to say that she is one of Alaffia's most enthusiastic supporters.

Thank you Jen, we truly appreciate all you are able to bring in support of the Alaffia mission.  We are so grateful that you have chosen to join us in our goal to advance gender equality and alleviate poverty in Togo, linking our communities in the U.S. and Africa.  We could not even begin to attempt the work we do without the support of people like you!

This Holiday Season, Use Your Choices to Change the World

For many of us who are not the president of a nation, our founder Olowo-n’djo, Lance Armstrong, Paul Stamets, or John Lennon, it is hard to imagine that our choices will change the world. 

My cup of tea reminded me of this recently, and I am so glad.  I started thinking about all of the little choices we make each day that have a major impact on the world around us.  Choices as small and seemingly insignificant as the cup of tea you drink. You can ask yourself, "Am I drinking tea that was brought to me under Fair Trade principals, or am I drinking a tea so inexpensive that whoever produced it will continue to live in extreme poverty and under harmful working conditions?" Your impact here could be greatly significant. Even further down the list it goes: "Am I drinking from a re-usable mug or a one-time use disposable cup? Am I using water purified locally or bottled and shipped from far away?" Decisions, decisions!

The options available to us today are vast, plentiful - and many are created without consideration for sustaining the earth’s resources or each other's welfare.  It remains our responsibility to make moral and sustainable choices. Fortunately, there are companies who are creating products for ethical reasons and are doing so using sustainable methods. I encourage you to give these businesses your patronage this holiday season and learn more about Fair Trade choices. The following products are currently available through Fair Trade organizations: clothing & accessories, personal care products, sports balls, coffee & tea, flowers, wine & liquor, and a variety of baking products. Our Fair Trade certifier, Fair for Life lists other certified companies on their website: www.fairforlife.org. When Fair Trade products are given as gifts, you are uplifting not only the persons receiving those products, but the producers of those products as well.

Now that you have purchased some Fair Trade gifts, you have to choose how to wrap and ship them. More world changing decisions!  My favorite way to save money (and trees) is to re-use newspapers or paper grocery bags to wrap gifts. You can personalize your re-used paper and make it as festive as you want – kids love helping with this part.  Saving and re-using gift wrap from others is also a good option.  When shipping your gifts, consider sending them in a "Life Box" which gives the gift of life in itself.  Learn more here: www.lifeboxcompany.com.  You could also choose to ship "light", since heavier items use more carbon in shipping - send gift cards or gift certificates.

Or perhaps you are one of the many people today who cannot even afford to spend money on gifts. You have the unique option to volunteer for a great cause, or to send your "Love" in a letter, email, or phone call.  Sharing your love this way is very sustainable and has a low impact on the planet. You might even brighten someone’s day and change the world.


Peace,
Tiffany A Conroy

Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative Member Highlight - Kadiri Adjaratou

Kadiri Adjaratou joined the Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative two years ago. She was one of nine new members that we recruited due to the success of our EveryDay Shea line last year.

Before joining Alaffia, Kadiri helped her elderly mother sell charcoal and fire wood at local markets. She also worked alongside her husband in their family farm near the village of Talamouanadè.

Two months after joining the Alaffia Cooperative, Kadiri saw a big difference in how she was able to provide for her family.

Her steady salary has enabled her to abandon charcoal production, and she no longer spends long, hard days searching and cutting firewood to sell.

Thank you Kadiri for all that you have done for Alaffia! We hope you continue to thrive!

Alaffia Supporter Interview, Sue Andrews - New Pioneer Co-op

Alaffia is lucky to have such passionate, caring, kind, exuberant, all-around-wonderful supporters across the country, and really, all over the world!  From happy customers who share the Alaffia cause with friends and family, to store owners who proudly display our product, to volunteers who help to organize and coordinate events benefitting Alaffia's empowerment projects, we have so many people to be grateful for.  And as a thank you, we want to get the word out - who are these people, why do they do what they do, and what was it that inspired them to embrace Alaffia so wholeheartedly?

Let's begin with Sue Andrews, Wellness Coordinator of the New Pioneer Co-op in Iowa City, Iowa, one of our above-and-beyond Alaffia supporters.

When I spoke with Sue over the phone this past week, her enthusiastic support of Alaffia immediately came through.  She admits that at first, she didn't pay much attention when NewPi began carrying Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care products, but that everything came together for her the day she met Olowo-n'djo Tchala, Alaffia Founder and Managing Director.

Sue was first introduced to Olowo-n'djo at a cooperative grocer's conference in the summer of 2009.  She recalls being drawn in by Olowo-n'djo's personality and presence, and that meeting him in person was the point when all things Alaffia really came together for her.  She described it as one of those great "Ah ha!" moments in life.  Sue remembers asking Olowo-n'djo if he felt satisfied with the work he was able to do, empowering women in his home country of Togo, West Africa.  His response, something to the effect of "No, I don't do enough," got her asking, "What did I do today?"

It was in that moment that Sue knew she wanted to do more than simply keep Alaffia products on the shelves of NewPi. In October of 2009, all profits from the sales of Alaffia products at the New Pioneer Co-op were donated back to Alaffia. Sue committed to doing the same this past July, making a donation of $1,320.

Sue closed our conversation with this warm acknowledgement: "I couldn't do it without my staff.  They sell, promote, love, and believe in the product."

And what are Sue's favorite Alaffia products?  She can't live without our EveryDay Shea Vanilla Moisturizing Body Lotion, or the Beautiful Curls Curl Enhancing products.

- Emily Parnham, Alaffia's Web & Community Coordinator

Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative Member Highlight - Rahimatou Razak

Rahimatou Razak has been a member of the Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative since 2004.

As a child growing up in rural Benin, Rahimitou helped her family gather shea fruit to sell.

Rahimatou has seen many of her peers leave their families and homes to work on plantations in other countries.

She says that one of the best things about being a member of the Alaffia Cooperative is that she is able to support her three children while living close to her family.

Thank you for all you do for the Alaffia Cooperative, Rahimatou!

Olympia Bike Drive



One of our youngest volunteers and her "Allaffia" sign.

Our Olympia Bike Drive took place this past Saturday, August 6th, in the Fish Tale parking lot. 

Enjoy a few photos of the day's events!







Two of our "bike testers" pause for a photo




A happy group of Alaffia Team Members

 




An Alaffia Team Member works to remove wheels, preparing
the bicycle for shipment

   




The lovely Martha, of Fish Tale

    








Our drum circle added energy and rhythm to the event

  



The EDS Babies & Up "Hedgies" came for a visit

    


    

There are more Bike Drives to come during the month of August:

Greenlake PCC Market - August 20th

Redmond PCC Market - August 21st

Whole Foods Market in El Segundo, CA - August 27th

Whole Foods Market in Venice Beach, CA - August 28th

Learn more about our Bicycles for Education Project and how it impactsWest African communites on our website.



Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative Member Highlight - Sarata Fousseni

Sarata began handcrafting shea butter with her mother when she was a child. She has worked at this craft for 20 years.

Sarata's husband is older, and is not able to help support their four children.  Before joining the Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative, Sarata was a farmer, but her farms did not yeild enough to meet the needs of her family. Joining the Alaffia Cooperative has enabled her to support her children and make repairs to her home.

Sarata has been a member of the cooperative since 2003.

Thank you Sarata for all your hard work as a member of the Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative!

Our mission thrives because of you!