We
know the difficulties
producers can experience to have sufficient money to buy food and basic provisions for themselves and their dependents.
Many hours work for very little pay is common and more often the disproportionate share of the profit on the product is shared between the middle men and the end distributor. There is a danger that
these producers are treated as purely the supplier of natural resources without a due recognition for the workers at the origin of the supply chain.
Gathering workers
together in to co-operatives gives them some safeguards and empowers
them to speak with a stronger voice to the buyer of the product. A
better price and better terms should ensue. We believe that by purchasing from farmers’ co-operatives and other like minded suppliers is the model for the future
to help end poverty.
As
a direct importer, we are proud to support fair trade by paying a
fair price/donating to these producers. We also visit some of
these co-ops and transfer some of our knowledge and experience.
As of
31.Dec.2010, we had stretched a helping hand to more than 100
entrepreneurs. 2011 has seen us increase this with 100%
funding towards Mwanasha & Jane of Kenya + contribution towards
funding of 10 others. We will continue to do this in a purely
philanthropic way.
Whilst working in Gumu - Ghana in June 2010, I noticed 1 thing was missing in the community - toilet facility. We are appealing for any donation towards the build of a public place of convenience.
24TH JUNE 2010: TARGET: £4,675
- 13.APR.2012 - TARGET ACHIEVED [£373.40 made up of individual donations]
UPDATE: I visited the community in April 2011 and this is the progress so far
The money raised has been used towards the purchase/moulding of blocks for construction. We are still a long way in completing this project and I can not wait to see this community benefit from the use of the KVIP.
~~~~~
"The water tank is feasible because while they do have toilets at least, they don't or have never had a water tank. For community health it is important the children have somewhere to wash their hands"
We donated money back in April 2012 and the above is part of a conversation we had on a new project in Uganda ......
~~~~~ We believe in education and we believe in helping build a bright future for the leaders of tomorrow.
Back in February 2013, we briefly made mention of our next helping hand project within the cocoa industry
Asikasu primary school is in the Eastern Region of Ghana - about 2hours' drive from Accra. 350 pupils will be benefiting from water filters installed by Ghanapreneurs LLC and funded by Sheabutter Cottage helping hand programme
The water filter looks simple but it is an effective way of providing clean water to these primary school children - it is our way of helping these children remain in school to continue with their education as we say NO to CHILDLABOUR.
~~~~~
* We support a
project in Ghana to provide fuel- efficient cooking stoves to
impoverished families. Initial donation towards 15 in December 2011 and extending it to 30 in February 2012. More to follow.
* 25% from the sale of each bar of our
marula soap is donated towards the support of a family in Low Veld
with more than 70% of Swazis living below the poverty line
* We support a
moringa farming community in Ghana through our direct purchase of their
high quality moringa leaf powder. We have also recently donated
money [during Fairtrade fortnight 2011] towards the purchase of safety
gear, nose masks & gloves. The rest of the money raised will
also go towards improving the safety of the farm. Part of the money is also used as a micro credit programme [at 0% interest rate] to hire labour for the workers to enable them generate more income.
We have been actively involved
with so many co-ops through our supply chain. Since 2009, we
have been involved with 2 shea co-ops in Ghana.
We have been
able to contribute [through our knowledge and experience] to the
production facility for processing shea butter. We have also
been donating 10% from each sale as direct unconditional donation to
help strengthen these co-ops.
Empowerment may sound like a typical
buzz word but we have seen it. The co-op members are taking
control of their own working and living conditions because of the
independence given to them by improvements in financial well being.
It is not a miracle step to huge prosperity but a simple step or two
in the right direction.
Above all, the co-ops are increasingly
responsible for their own well being. We are planting the seed
of vision and ideas and hopefully passing on a few tools of the
trade to allow them to run on their own because we believe that
education is a great gift that can be given to anyone.
To make the co-ops a fully 365
day business, we are working with them to broaden their reach - what
they can produce and sell. Shea butter can be the primary
income source but it does not need to be the only source. We work together to produce soaps as we believe these
products are of good quality. We appreciate that the market
can be a difficult place when it is price driven - but the co-ops do
not need to be just the "farmer".
Our visits to these co-ops [June 2010
+ April 2011] help us to educate and empower.
*******
Back
in April 2011 [13th], we donated money whilst I was in Ghana towards
the build of 2 sheds - 1 in Gumu and 1 in Malshegu to enable the women
who churn the shea work in the shade as the temperature in Northern
Ghana can be VERY INTENSE. Well, thanks to everyone who supports us, I
have just received the photos that these sheds have now been completed.
Thank you so much for your support:
SHED AT GUMU
SHED AT MALSHEGU
The funds we released on 21.09.12 towards the build of a [shea nuts] drying platform at Malshegu - Ghana has been put to use. This means that this shea co-op can start producing grade A unrefined shea butter.
Thanks to all our
supporters, we managed to pay the health insurance for Gumu in June
2010 and will continue to do so.
We have also been able to donate
towards the purchase of a mode of transport for the 2 co-ops.
We support educational activities by
sponsoring disadvantaged children.
Vele is a cute boy (almost a teenager) who we are very
proud to support. He lives in Swaziland and despite his disability,
is now being educated at St. Joseph's in Mzimpofu.
Looking at the past 3 reports (2009 - 2011), Vele
has made a lot of progress at school - remarkably following simple
instructions and understanding simple messages despite the fact that
he can't recognise colours nor match simple shapes. It was such a pleasure meeting Vele in November 2011 after sponsoring him for so many years through Swazi Secrets [our marula oil supplier].
Vele suffers from Down Syndrome and can understand instructions/clean himself but needs supervision. He will not be able to develop academically but hope to develop vocationally.
We are so proud of him
*******
BUILDING
A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW
Orphaned through no choice of theirs, these children are shown love and
compassion through programmes and activities as tools for their holistic
development.
The vision is to create a long, loving relationship with the less privileged
child, offering ourselves as caring stakeholders.
We are committed to improving the lives of the children at their early stages
of life, as this tends to be their character building stage. By translating the
best practices of a caring and a supportive environment into opportunities to
develop their personalities. We believe success in providing the caring and
supportive environment,
will not doubtingly, promise a brighter future for each child.
Through programmes and activities, each child is provided a fair playground
to develop their innermost abilities and potentials. A fair playground is
necessary for these children, as they seem not to have what other children
possibly have, a basic one, which is the absence of their nuclear family.
The workforce behind this organisation, is a network of volunteers of
youths between the ages of 18 and 25, who are trained to implement such
programmes.
We are one family, where no one
is left out nor forgotten. Through love and empathy we believe we can
empower the children to be confident and march into the future with great hope
assured of our support. WE BELIEVE that each child is an asset to the world.
They are the
leaders of tomorrow.
