Good morning friends. I realize it has been a while since I last shared my journey encounters with you. And today seems to be the right day. We are now in Ghana and my daughters took great interest in taking a day to explore the slave castles here and understand slavery. To me, this time when this inhumane form of trade was generally accepted conduct has resulted in the confusion of post-colonial African culture, economic disparity, and dignity of people of African origin.

I will admit whole heartedly that I did not have the stomach to walk the castles as bravely as my daughters. Instead, I sat down next to the local fishermen to write this note to share my feelings with you. I asked myself if we are not repeating the normalization of this practice today as I looked at the young woman with a child on her back in front of me washing dishes to serve the fishermen, and as I spoke on the phone with an Alaffia team member whose husband, a teacher, is not being fairly compensated. I again questioned myself that while one cannot equate the suffering of the slave trade with the suffering I currently see, I cannot also engage in unfairness of trade of the goods, services, dignity - dignity of ourselves.

While this may seem "gloom and doom" as they say, it is with the belief that we must look at history, not only to enjoy the upcoming holidays with our families or alone, but also to wonder in a meaningful way if we as people are choosing a better future for the generations on the horizon? And should we be responsible? From Ghana, the town of Elmina, I wish you happy holidays.

Sincerely,

Olowo-n'djo

A Recap of 2017 | Giving Thanks

Dear Friends of Alaffia, It is my wish that my letter finds you and your family in good health.   The primary reasons for my writing this evening are to express to you, and on  behalf of us all at Alaffia, our gratitude for the hand you continue to lend us such  that our mission may continue its journey, and to wish you and yours a most  joyful holiday season.  I believe that we are all held together by the humility   and love embedded in each of us to create heaven on earth for all people  and our surroundings. You have continued to support Alaffia in ways you know  best, and together we are reducing the pain of the innocent.  Simply put: I can only say thank you.  Going forward, I would like to ensure you  that Alaffia’s journey of servitude will continue and your contribution is everlasting.   Because of your support, since our beginning we have collectively achieved the impact  below through our empowerment projects. Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative, Sokodé. August 2017. Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative, Sokodé. August 2017. Maternal Care:
4,832 Maternal Healthcare Recipients School Construction:     12 Schools Built 2,311 School Benches Built         36 Restrooms Built for Students School Supplies Distribution:     34,640 School Supply Recipients              Reforestation: 59,775 Trees Planted Bicycle & Eyeglasses Distribution: 8,253 Bikes Distributed  25,588 Eyeglasses distributed
Clip: Opening Ceremony of Nadagou School, Togo
Still, numbers cannot capture the full magnitude of the impact; you must imagine  the many lives behind these numbers.  For example, a month ago, we finished  the construction of a school in Nadagou, Togo as you will see on this video.  Because you have helped build them a school, students in Nadagou will not  unnecessarily lose their lives trying to cross the river to go the neighboring school. Before the new school was built and during raining seasons, students have  drowned crossing the river just to get to school.  It is inconceivable to me that in this  same world, where a school bus picks up my children every morning and  brings them home every afternoon, a child across the world can drown simply  trying to get to school.  When this was brought to my knowledge, I could not stand by without taking action. To me, nothing is worth more than a human life. It is one of  the reasons why I fundamentally believe simply claiming fair trade is not enough  for our motherland, we must go beyond label claims to achieve human dignity.  In other words, we all must work to offer a noble existence for all people.
In addition to the new school, the children of Nadagou received  bicycles from Alaffia to use for daily transportation. In addition to the new school, the children of Nadagou received  bicycles from Alaffia to use for daily transportation.
Because you are part of the Alaffia family, I would like to share with you  our outlook for 2018: We will continue Alaffia’s mission both here in our great State of Washington,  as well as our communities in West Africa. In the following images you see that we   are supporting a local social enterprise in Eastern Ghana to construct a traditional  soap making facility. Not only will this provide additional economic opportunities,  but it will expand our gender equality initiatives in Ghana next year.  Also in Ghana, we will add another 1,000 women to the 5,000 strong basket weavers  currently under contract with Alaffia. Last month, I was in Bolgatanga, visiting  Alaffia’s weavers, and the women told me they want nothing more than the opportunity  to weave baskets to support their families.
In November, I met with Alaffia basket weavers near Bolgatanga, Ghana to hear their experiences and collaborate.
Building facility for traditional soap making in Kede, in the eastern region of Ghana.
To continue our moral obligation of empowering the voiceless, both economically and  socially, we must continue to expand Alaffia’s current market base and diversify our  retailers and product innovation offerings. Therefore, next year, we plan to introduce a series of new products into new markets. Every space on every shelf is an  opportunity to empower humanity and create economic justice. Every time a shelf is  stocked at night, when many of us are sleeping, it is a chance for a baby to be safely  born. We all contribute in our own ways.
On another note, many of you know that Togo is going through some political uncertainties. Although some may say we should retreat, we believe this is exactly the time to  economically support the poor -- to continue to create jobs -- by growing Alaffia in  the USA. Please rest assured that due to our expanded sourcing in Togo, Burkina Faso  and Ghana, we have access to the materials we need to make our skincare products. If anything, this gives us an opportunity to empower more communities, and gain access to new and exciting ingredients. We do however pray that peace rains upon Togo soon. We are updating our packaging throughout 2018. Our refreshed packaging will focus on three main elements:
Preview of Alaffia branding alignment in 2018
1) Brand unification 2) Coherent communication 3) A re-emphasis on our moral obligation to continue to be the most ethical supplier of traditional, handcrafted shea butter in our market. Rose, our daughters and I are heading to Togo and Ghana in a couple days, both for work  and to get some family time. I hope that during these holidays you, too, get some time  with your family. Finally, I hope you have recognized the crucial role you play in the Alaffia mission, and I can only thank you with all my being.   Here’s to a joyful and healthy 2018. Peacefully yours, Olowo-n’djo

Alaffia's New Shea Cooperative

Dear friends of Alaffia, It is my sincere wish that this note finds you and your family in good health.  Six weeks ago, I promised to update you on Alaffia’s progress in establishing a new cooperative in northern Togo near the village of Djapak.  A couple of weeks ago, I returned from working with our team in Djapak and put together this brief video as an update on the cooperative and to give you a sense of this difficult area.  As you can see, while fair trade is important, it is simply not enough to raise our communities out of extreme poverty. I will keep you posted on our progress in the months going forward. To me, Alaffia’s new cooperative in Djapak is only possible because of your continuing support, for which I cannot thank you enough.

On behalf of all of us at Alaffia, please accept our deepest gratitude for your care and support.  Your individual actions contribute to the betterment of lives of individuals in our most impoverished communities. I wish you a peaceful and happy spring. Peacefully yours, Olowo-n’djo

An Update From Olowo-n'djo

Dear Friends of Alaffia, Olowo-n’djo and “Ina”, his mother, July 2015 It is my wish that this letter finds you and your family in good health.  As many of you know, I have spent most of the past months traveling back and forth between the United States and Togo. For me, the past year has been difficult. Aside from managing the increasingly complex organization that is Alaffia, I also lost the person I love and admire the most – my dear mother.  The loss of my mother has led me to look within myself and question my beliefs and dedication to the empowerment of the less fortunate.  After several months of traveling in Togo and witnessing the continuing suffering of humanity, I believe my mother would want me to stay on course regardless of the difficulties. I must also attribute my renewed strength to the kindness and support many of you have given to me, and for this I am grateful to you.   Olowo-n’djo expressing frustration with Togo television  reporter during donation of medical supplies, Sokode Togo.  December 2016. The main reason for my recent trips to Togo was to participate in the furnishing of outdated emergency rooms in the regional hospitals in Sokodé and Bassar. Alaffia collaborated with Project C.U.R.E. to provide medical equipment and supplies to these two hospitals, one polyclinique and four village health clinics that altogether serve more than 1.5 million people.  During the ceremony at the Sokodé main hospital, I expressed during my speech that I had lost a sister at this hospital and she and my beloved mother could be alive today had this hospital had the appropriate equipment. This was reason enough for Alaffia to undertake this project, without taking into account Alaffia’s belief that it is one’s duty to prevent the unnecessary deaths of the poor. On Togolese national TV later, I was as asked why Alaffia is providing medical equipment. By this time I was frustrated, and answered that without the shea nuts coming from the Sokodé area, we would not have shea butter to sell in the United States, and the source of poverty is the history of one-way trade, where resources are taken out of Africa without adequate compensation. I went on to say that my soul and existence cannot withstand seeing the suffering of the people and do nothing. In a sense, what makes one a human being is our moral responsibility to community and a dedication of his or her life to the betterment of human kind.  Furthermore, because I know the Togolese government does not yet understand that a business can exist simply to do well, I explained that I am simply serving my purpose of existence and have no other ulterior motive. Olowo-n’djo, US Ambassador David Gilmour, Togo Government and Health Officials and Alaffia Empowerment Managers at distribution ceremony for donated medical supplies in Sokodé, Togo, December 2016 Ancestral mountain overlooking Nano, Togo, near the site for the  new Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative in Djapak, Togo The second reason for my last travels to Togo was to begin construction of our new cooperative in the North.  I’m pleased to inform you that this work was begun in the Djapak, a village in the mountainous area of northern Togo in the Moba ethnic region.  On more than one occasion, men from this region have told me women are inferior beings.  This misguided belief has convinced me even more than ever that this is a place Alaffia must be. We cannot at once bring about gender equality, but I believe that with the economic impact that Alaffia will bring to women in Djapak in five years, as we have in other regions of Togo, men will no longer view women as subhuman.  The shea butter cooperative will employ 200 women by February 2018 and we will have fair trade contracts with over 3,800 shea nut collectors in the surrounding region, bringing much needed income every year to thousands of women and their families.  Olowo-n’djo, US Ambassador David Gilmour, and the Prefet of Tandjouare lay the ceremonial first stone of the Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative in Djapak, Togo. Olowo-n’djo, Abide Awesso and Alaffia team locate best areas to drill for water for new Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative in Djapak, Togo. Olowo-n’djo, Abide Awesso and Alaffia team locate best areas to drill for water for new Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative in Djapak, Togo. Moba woman (left) and children of Djapak (above),  beneficiaries of the new Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative and Shea Nut Collectives in Northern Togo. In addition to these two new initiatives, Alaffia was also busy last year with our ongoing programs, including:  • Bicycles distributed to 382 new students. • School supplies distributed to 9,142 students. • Latrines built and installed at four high schools. • 293 safe births funded. • Eyeglasses distributed to 1,167 individuals. • 4,450 fruit, fuel wood and forage trees planted. • 406 school benches constructed and distributed.  There are many reasons why I share all that we accomplished last year in Togo, but most of all it is because I believe I owe you an explanation and report to you where funds from your Alaffia purchases are going.  However, I also do not want to underestimate the economic impact Alaffia has in our great state of Washington, where our team is over 115 strong, and where we purchase over 80% of our total packaging materials within a three state radius, instead of sourcing from overseas.  We believe the caring I have embodied for my motherland should be equal for America. After all, my wife and partner, Rose, is as American as it gets. Now, our vision for this coming year is not only to continue our empowerment projects, but to do more. This year, we have engaged in a partnership with the USAID to plant 500,000 trees in northern Togo over the next three years.  Furthermore, we have pledged to distribute 1,600 bicycles to encourage girls in four different regions of Togo to stay in school, and we have doubled our team in Bassar so we can extend Alaffia’s quest to eradicate female genital mutilation in Togo to the Kara region. To me there is no freedom or moral existence of human kind until women in our communities have the right to say no to their genitals being cut off.  Alaffia’s new packaging and line extension focusing on neem and turmeric role out beginning April 15, 2017. In order to continue these just causes, we need to increase funding, and since the funding of these initiatives comes from the sales of our products, we have developed a series of line extensions to be available over the next three months, and to take our packaging to the next level.  As I have always said and believe, Africans do not need handouts, we simply need a place to trade our unique resources at a fair price so we can take our destiny in our own hands. And by formulating quality and ethical products, we are providing you something of equal exchange. Association of Washington Business | Grow Here Whole Planet Foundation, Trailblazer Award Planting the Seed  Onward, I will be returning to Togo in a couple weeks to continue the above objectives, and I will return to the United States in early April with four of our top managers, a team of women I call the “Alaffia Empowerment Council.” We will then tour several major cities for the month of April so our Togolese leaders can thank you first hand for your support and express their gratitude to your customers through community events at select stores. We will be grateful for a place to stay through this tour; our regional managers will be providing you with schedule details by March 22. Until next time, from my heart and on behalf of the many souls Alaffia has touched both here in the United States and in Togo because of your support, I humbly kneel down before you to present to you my gratitude. I wish you and your entire family a healthy and peaceful year. Yours humbly, Olowo-n'djo

Alaffia Family

The reality today is that families are spread out across the world, thousands of miles apart, with each of us living separate lives.  We get caught up in our own struggles and routines and forget the bonds we share. However, as the holidays get near, we begin to think of those close to us, through blood or love, and we feel an urge to come together to remind us how important it is to have each other. This urge seems to be something truly cross-cultural, as strong here as it is in Togo and other far reaches of the world.

As families come together over the holidays, they put aside their differences and work toward a common goal. Even if the goal is as simple as putting together a warm meal and giving thanks for the opportunities and events of our lives, the goal is reached by everyone contributing what they can. In many ways, the unity I see in families during the holidays reminds me of how our cooperatives and women’s groups work every day in Togo.

In fact, the women of Queen Alaffia are a great example. At Queen Alaffia, the goal is twofold – give women an opportunity to support themselves and their families with the skills and knowledge they have accrued during their lives, and also, to create beautiful and creative products for others to enjoy.  Neither goal would be attainable without the women working together.  Like a Thanksgiving dinner, a Queen Alaffia bag is made of several parts contributed by many people.  One woman may sew the strips of fabric together. Another woman cuts the bag, and others will sew, press, and finish the bag. Each piece is a combined effort with a common goal.

If I look beyond Queen Alaffia to the greater Alaffia family, I see the same pattern – with each of you bringing your “dish” to make the Alaffia goal a reality.  The Alaffia family spans several continents, multiple cultures, beliefs, and ways of life. However, we all have a critical piece to contribute, and, united with the goal of empowering the less fortunate, we are truly making a difference.  During this season of reflection, we thank you for being part of our family and look forward to what we can accomplish together in the coming year.

Wishing you a peaceful and cooperative holiday season,

Rose

Ladies of Togo Tour

Three members of the Alaffia Togo Team will be visiting the US during March. They will tour retailers throughout the country, sharing their stories, traditional knowledge, and answering your questions. Learn how your Alaffia purchases support our fair trade initiatives, alleviate poverty, and empower communities.

Join the ladies and Alaffia founder, Olowo-n'djo Tchala  at the following events:

UNIVERSITY PLACE, WA

• March 8, 10:00AM: WFM Chambers Bay (3515 Bridgeport Way W University Place, WA 98466)
• March 8, 4:00PM: WFM Chambers Bay (3515 Bridgeport Way W University Place, WA 98466)

SAN DIEGO, CA

• March 16, 6:00PM-8:00PM: African Dance Class; World Beat Cultural Center (2100 Park Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101)

ATLANTA, GA

• March 24, 1:00PM-2:30PM: WFM Ponce de Leon (650 Ponce de Leon Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30308)
• March 24, 3:30PM-4:30PM: Sevananda Natural Foods Market (467 Moreland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30307)
• March 25, 1:00PM-2:30PM: WFM West Paces (77 West Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta, GA 30305)
• March 25, 3:30-4:30PM: Nuts ‘n Berries (4274 Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30319)

BROOKLYN

• March 28, 11:00AM-12:30PM: WFM Brooklyn (214 3rd Street Brooklyn, NY 11215)
• March 28, 2:00PM-3:00PM: Perelandra Natural Food Center (175 Remsen Street Brooklyn, NY 11201)

NEW YORK, NY

• March 28, 4:00PM-5:00PM: Westerly Natural Market (911 8th Ave New York, NY 10019)
• March 28, 6:00PM-8:00PM: Fairway Market (2131 Broadway New York, NY 10023)

MINNEAPOLIS, MN

• March 30, 7:00PM-8:30PM: The Wedge Table (2412 Nicollet Ave Minneapolis, MN 55404)

Abidé Awesso is Alaffia’s Director of Community Support for the Kara and Savanna regions of Togo. Abidé is a licensed midwife and joined Alaffia in 2012 as Maternal Health Coordinator for central Togo communities. In 2014, Abidé advocated for the expansion of the maternal initiative into the Kara region, as her research had shown the need was even greater there than in the central region. In 2015, Alaffia expanded efforts into the Savanna region and Abidé now manages both maternal and education initiatives in these two regions. Abidé is from Kara, north of Sokodé.


Mawulé Houmey is the Manager of Traditional Oil Extraction at Alaffia Village, Sokodé. Mawulé is from Aneho and first joined Alaffia to oversee coconut oil extraction at our Alaffia Coconut Cooperative in Klouvi-Donnou in 2012. She moved to Sokodé in 2015 to train and manage our cooperative members on traditional coconut oil & shea butter extraction.


Ahoumondom Bamassi is the Manager of the Togo Artisan Center in Sokodé. Ahoumondom has been with Alaffia since 2011, when she joined the Community Support team as the Education and Environment Coordinator. As Coordinator, she managed Alaffia’s Bicycles for Education, School Supply and Reforestation initiatives in the Central and Maritime regions. In 2015, she moved to Alaffia’s  newly created Artisan Center to manage the Queen Alaffia prostitution rehabilitation movement.

Love Your Beautiful Curls Contest

WIN A YEAR SUPPLY OF BEAUTIFUL CURLS + $500 CASH! 

We want to celebrate you, your natural beauty, and your Beautiful Curls! 

Enter the Love Your Beautiful Curls Contest by creating a video about your favorite Alaffia Beautiful Curls product.

Contest Rules:

1. The video must be between 15 and 30 seconds long, posted on Facebook or Instagram.
2. Tag Alaffia and include the hashtag: #LoveYourBeautifulCurls.
3. Show at least 1 Beautiful Curls product and tell us how you use it & why you LOVE it.

Have fun! We are looking for creativity and passion for BEAUTIFUL CURLS! 

Questions? Comment below or visit us on Facebook or Instagram.

(The contest is open in the US only February 14-March 14)

2015 Thank You

Alaffia Friends,

I first would like to wish you a healthy and joyful 2016. Equally important, Alaffia families here and abroad would like to express their gratitude for all you have done in supporting Alaffia in 2015. It is my clear belief that each of you brings a critical contribution to Alaffia, and I owe you an overview of Alaffia's achievements this past year and our vision and commitment for the immediate future. Your continuous contributions are a safety umbrella allowing us to move the vulnerable members of our communities out of poverty. I spent the last seven weeks of 2015 in Togo, and below is a summary of what I witnessed.

Visiting Tamongue High School with my daughter, Yemi; Existing straw structures (above) and new Alaffia school under construction, Tamongue, Tandjouaré region, Togo. December 2015.

During 2015 we built more schools than any other year since Alaffia's birth. Last year alone we built five schools: two schools in Essovalé (central Togo), two high schools in the Tandjouaré region (northern Togo), and a kindergarten in Adjengré. Also, we distributed 782 bicycles and have another 500 being distributed at this moment. Furthermore, 902 mothers and babies were guaranteed safe births because Alaffia covered the costs of their maternal care. We planted another 10,500 trees and collected 8,500 eyeglasses with the help of our sales representatives and retailers. Moreover, we constructed the first ever commercial biogas digester in Togo, which we believe is fundamentally the most viable and clean source of energy.

Surveying the newly constructed biogas digester, as shea nut byproduct enters the underground diester chambers, Alaffia Village, Sokodé, December 2015.

On the immediate economic side, our collective members (the women who provide Alaffia with shea nuts, grass, baobab and neem), rose from 4,000 in 2014 to over 7,000 in 2015. The increase is due in part to our growth here in the United States and it means more families in Togo with additional means to send their children to school. In the Alaffia cooperative centers, we added 100 members in Togo, and have a strong 2,000 basket weavers in Bolgatanga, Ghana. Additionally, in June 2015, we established Queen Alaffia - creating batik and fabric accessories with the sole objective of getting our young sisters in central Togo out of prostitution. We went from nine young women in June to 60 by the end of December.

Queen Alaffia seamstresses with Alaffia USE sales managers at the Alaffia Artisan Center, Sokodé. December 2015.

Here in Olympia, WA, we now number in the 90s and have implemented a retirement program in addition to the comprehensive health care system put in place in 2014. Our most lasting contribution to the US economy is the increase of our domestic packaging use from 80 to 85%. Packaging is the third biggest expenditure for Alaffia, and despite this, we continue our commitment to purchase US-made packaging even though it is more costly than sourcing oversees because it helps to create and maintain American jobs.
Our world is a volatile place and sadly many parts of it continue to witness human suffering due to poverty. As we are one human family, we must continue to band together to create peace and justice for all. While the work of Alaffia may be draining and challenging, it must continue. It is poverty and a sense of worthlessness that breed terrorism and civil unrest. Providing our vulnerable communities with jobs, education, and healthcare for our mothers is a moral duty, and I shall continue to dedicate my life for this just cause.

Sewa Kpatchiné, Alaffia Maternal Health Care recipient,
Bitchabé, Togo. December 2015.

Nothing in life is more rewarding than the opportunity to save a human life. While in Togo this past December visiting communities receiving Alaffia empowerment support, we made a home visit to Sewa Kpatchiné, one of Alaffia's maternal health care recipients. I cannot express to you in words the depth of the poverty conditions in which Sewa lives. Sewa and three of her children live in Bitchabé, a small village near Ghana on the western border of Togo. Her husband had been ill and unable to work for several months, and she also cares for her blind father-in-law. Since Sewa and her husband moved to Bitchabé from Ghana, they do not have their own land to farm, and only eat once a day. I was touched by this visit and thought of this family often.

Then, on Christmas Eve, I received a call from Abidé Awesso, Alaffia's Director of Community Support in Bassar. Abidé told me that Sewa's husband had died, and Sewa herself was in need of urgent care in the regional hospital or she too would die, as well as her unborn child. I ordered an immediate evacuation to the larger hospital and authorized Alaffia to cover all charges. By January 5, Sewa was released from the hospital, and the survival of both her and her child was well worth the $300 in medical bills.

Since I returned to the United States, every day I think of Sewa, and the disparities that exist within our human family and how every bottle of lotion we sell can add up to save lives. Once again, you give me the strength and ability to continue this journey, and for that I am forever grateful to each and every one of you.

Peacefully together,

Olowo-n'djo Tchala
Alaffia Co-Founder & CEO

Gifts that Give Back

Guest Post from True Moringa Co-Founder, Emily Cunningham:

Conscious shoppers are the missing ingredient in a more inclusive global supply chain that breaks the cycle of poverty for small farming families. 

In January of 2012, my co-founder Kwami and I found ourselves in the middle of rural Ghana, puzzled by a paradox. There are 1.5 billion acres of fertile uncultivated land in Africa and 120 million smallholder farmers living on that land earning less than $2 per day.

It was not for lack of natural resources that these farming families were trapped in a cycle of poverty - beautiful, rare, nutrient-rich botanical crops were all around us. The farmers introduced us to one crop in particular that caught our attention - moringa. 

Moringa is known locally as the miracle tree. The leaves of the tree contain, per gram, more vitamin A than carrots, more calcium than milk, more protein than eggs, and more iron than spinach. The seeds of tree, rich in antioxidants and moisturizing agents like behenic and linoleic acid produce one of nature's finest anti-aging and moisturizing treatments for hair and skin care. Even the waste product of oil processing, the pressmeal, could be used for organic fertilizer, animal feed, and flocculant to purify water. 

So if farmers had all of these incredible natural resources like moringa growing in their backyards-  why were they still poor? And why had so few people heard about the benefits of crops like moringa? 

It didn't take many days in the village to realize that smallholder farmers had the deck stacked against them. They lacked access to reliable financing and inputs like seeds and fertilizer to start new farms. They lacked information about how to grow crops up to the standards of the international market, and about how to maximize their yields. Farmers were risk averse from being told time and again by companies, NGOs and their government to grow particular crops, only to find their was no market for their produce when harvest time came. 

It became clear that if we wanted to bring moringa to the masses, and do it in a way that included farmers earning less than $2 per day, we had to reimagine the entire supply chain. 

This meant building deep relationships with farmers- mapping their farms to determine the yields they could expect and the amount of inputs like seed and fertilizer they needed, and providing constant follow up with a dedicated agricultural extension officer. It meant creating a proprietary processing system so value could be added and jobs created locally. It also meant building a brand and products that would resonate with customers around the world. With all of this in mind, True Moringa was born.

From the outset, we realized that our work, though important to the communities we serve, was a drop in the ocean. We were founded with the intention of joining forces with companies who are doing their own work to build holistic and inclusive supply chains, but most importantly to create products that you actually want and use- products that stand alone even without the social impact story behind them.

 

We are so excited to partner with Alaffia and Madecasse- two companies that go above and beyond fair trade to truly get to know and co-create with the communities they serve- this holiday season to bring you our True Moringa Holiday Gift Box. Each box contains ethically sourced and produced Madecasse chocolate, Alaffia shea moisturizing lotion, and our peppermint moringa oil. It’s our first foray into building a larger more-than-fair trade movement - and we can’t wait to hear what you think!

 

Remember that you vote with your dollars for the type of world you want to live in- even the most elegant and ethical supply chains mean nothing without you.

The future of the more-than-fair trade movement rests with conscious consumers.

True Moringa works to provide food security and sustainable livelihoods to over 1,000 small farming families throughout Ghana. Purchase their holiday gift box with free shipping nationwide (using code 'HOLIDAYSHIPFREE' here.

October 2015 Togo Trip Update

Greetings Friends of Alaffia,

It is my wish that this note finds you and your family in good health. This year, I have visited Togo more often than any other time since we started Alaffia. Last week, I returned from my fourth trip this year, and next week I will return for another six weeks. My frequent visits are due to overseeing Alaffia community projects and expansion of our collective cooperatives. Your continuing support has led to the growth of our brands, Alaffia, Everyday Shea, Everyday Coconut, Good Soap and Beautiful Curls, which has enabled us to expand our community initiatives. As the reach of our initiatives grows, so does the need for me to be on the ground to ensure the most disadvantaged members of the community receive the positive impact. However, my October trip was also for two very specific purposes.

First, I had the honor to host a delegation of donors and leaders of the Whole Planet Foundation, which provides microfinance funding to our communities in Togo and throughout the world. I had the opportunity to share Alaffia’s model and activities on the ground with other leaders from the natural products industry, including Papyrus, Reservage, and Seventh Generation. Our hope was to show that the Alaffia model of empowering humanity’s most vulnerable in Togo and in the USA through the economic process can break the chain of poverty. Not only did we tour the Alaffia Artisan Center, Community Projects Headquarters and “Alaffia Village” (Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative), but we also visited our Maternal Health center in Bassar, Alaffia schools under construction, and our shea nut gathering communities. The keystone event was a welcoming ceremony attended by a couple thousand community recipients and cooperative members at the Alaffia Village. The speech excerpt below was delivered by a student representing all the recipients of our bicycles, school supplies, and school buildings.

Whole Planet Foundation with Alaffia team and my family in Sokodé.

Scott White (Whole Foods Market) heling dry shea nuts with Alaffia cooperative members.

Melanie Guidotti (Papyrus) learning to weave baskets with Alaffia Basket Manager, Guiname.

Gathering of Alaffia cooperative members welcoming the Whole Planet Foundation delegation to Alaffia Village.

Amatou Ouro Agaouda represented all student recipients with a speech in English at the welcome ceremony.

Dancing with my mother at the welcome ceremony.

Current school building in Essovale.

New Alaffia school under construction in Essovale with delegation and community members helping.

Joy Stoddard (Whole Planet Foundation), Gayle Grindley (Seventh Generation) , and JoAnne Brenner (Alaffia) helping move laterite.

Making new bricks with Kaze Williams (Reservage) and Tony Huston (Papyrus).

Giving words of encouragement to students of Essovale.

Walking to visit the home of one of the Alaffia Materal Health Project recipients in Bassar.

We were also honored by the presence of Mr. Peter Barlerin, the Charge des Affairs (acting Ambassador) of the United States to Togo and the US Embassy’s Community Liaison Officer, Elizabeth Newton, during the Whole Planet tour of Alaffia Village and Artisan Center. Mr. Barlerin’s regular position is the Director of the Office of Economic and Regional Affairs within the Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Therefore, his visit was a special opportunity for me to share with him how state department policies can influence and encourage job prospects and growth in West Africa.

Mr. Barlerin and delegation in our traditional soap session.

Elizabeth Newton whipping shea butter with Melanie.

Second, for the past several years, we have been researching and developing a way to bring biogas to Togo. Biogas technology produces combustible gas from organic waste products, and is an underused source of clean and renewable energy in West Africa. Installing a biogas digester was a priority of Alaffia’s in order to meet our objective of reaching 100% energy sustainability in our shea butter production.

With the greatest joy in my heart, I am happy to inform you we began constructing two biogas digesters, which will turn all the byproduct from making our shea butter into biogas, providing heat and energy for all our needs in traditional shea butter, coconut oil, and black soap crafting. A team of Ugandan and Togo engineers and masons are joining forces and hands to realize this project, and for me personally, it is encouraging to witness Africans putting their hands and resources together to create an everlasting, sustainable solution to an African problem.

Mr. Abel Adje with our Ugandan Biogas Engineers analyzing the construction plan.

The first step of the digester: digging ten feet into the clay and rock.

The digester begins to take shape; final structure will be a dome.

As with all things Alaffia, our biogas project in reality is not just about providing sustainable energy for Alaffia, instead it is about using Alaffia as a platform to bring biogas as an energy solution to Togo. Alaffia’s goal is to construct biogas digesters in schools throughout Togo and West Africa to turn human waste into energy for lighting and pumping clean water for students. Today, 98% of schools do not have lighting or potable water, furthering the difficulty of our youth to learn and succeed. The ultimate result will be a well-informed and educated generation in our African communities enabling us to control our own destiny, freedom and potential.

Next week, I will be in Togo again to help with the final construction of our biogas digesters, and when I return to the USA in January, I will update you on the progress. I wish there was a way to express how grateful we are for your support of Alaffia, as it is your support that enables us to continue to serve our communities. During our welcome ceremony for the Whole Planet visitors last month, a longtime friend and Alaffia’s Director of Internal Control and Transparency, Mr. Abel Adje, said in the final words of his speech “It is not what you have already done for Alaffia, nor what Alaffia has done; it is what we have not yet done.” On this note, I look forward to the years ahead to do what we have not yet done and together bring about dignity to every part of our communities. Be it that you are a custodian who leaves your family behind every night to clean the store so it’s presentable to customers in the morning, a store owner or executive, sales representative, buyer, shelf-stocker or receiver and so on, my hope is we will continue together to do what we have not yet done to bring peace, freedom and economic equality to all humankind.

On behalf of all of us at Alaffia and those you have touched, I wish you a joyous and peaceful holiday season.

Humbly yours,

Olowo-n’djo Tchala
Alaffia Founder & CEO