Unrefined shea butter is a valuable natural resource for West Africa and could be an important tool in empowering local communities. However, most shea butter on the market in the United States and Europe is not fairly traded. The women who gather shea nuts and hand craft this remarkable oil receive only a tiny fraction of the final price.

It is estimated to take 20 to 30 hours of labor to produce one kilogram of handcrafted shea butter, which is traded at $1 or less in today's market. A woman making shea butter in West Africa will receive only a fraction of this price. Therefore, a person working for 30 hours, almost a week's worth of work, will not receive even a dollar for her efforts. Even if she received the whole dollar, this does not even begin to reach living wage standards.

Sustainable Harvest, Sustainable Ecology
Shea trees grow wild in their natural environment and are not grown in massive plantations; therefore they do not need synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Shea fruit for our skin care products are hand gathered; there are no massive harvesting machines burning fossil fuels and compacting the soil. Every part of the harvested shea fruits are used in some way. While the Shea Butter is the marketable product, the shells and the non butter particulates are used as natural fertilizers on fields. To reduce waste, we also use the non-butter particulates as exfoliants in our soaps.

Sustainable Production, Sustainable Economy
All of the oils and butters for our skin care products that we make in Togo are extracted with traditional methods. We also take the care to only use non-plantation grown coconuts, palm fruit and cacao beans. Plantations have multiple environmental, social and economic consequences, while the small farms we support have been sustainable for centuries.

Using Fair Trade Principles to Build Economies
Alaffia's philosophy is based on the belief that Fair Trade, where morality is practiced instead of individual gain, is the key to Africa becoming economically independent. Paying fair wages, valuing local technologies, respecting local knowledge, using sustainable raw materials and resources are all part of Fair Trade.

Empowerment through Fair Trade
The first step of self empowerment is the full recognition of the value of African products, knowledge and resources through fair prices. The proceeds should be returned to fund education, social and economic infrastructure, and health care. Fair prices will in the long run provide credibility and accountability to African economies because it is a change that comes from within, unlike the current practice of borrowing from global financial institutions. Africans will participate in sustainable economic development if trade practices are fair and benefit all parties. Furthermore, Fair Trade provides stable incomes, which in turn allow participation in education and strengthen social structures.

Community
Students in Togo are required to provide their own school uniforms and books, which can be a daunting expense for poor families. For two years, we have donated school supplies and uniforms to more than 300 children in our communities. Also, local schools in small towns must build and furnish schools on their own. Many schools do not have adequate seating or roofing, as these are expensive. We have donated desks and installed new school roofs to make learning a more enjoyable experience.

In order to mitigate current deforestation in our communities, Alaffia and the Global Alliance for Community Empowerment (GACE) have begun a tree planting project. We purchase young trees and distribute them to small towns and villages. This is a perpetual project and we would like to expand it throughout West Africa.

This year, Alaffia and GACE began a long-term tree planting in Togo as a way to prevent and mitigate deforestation and climate change. We distributed 55 trees to volunteers in the town of Nigbaoude in central Togo. Next year, we will proceed in larger scale, focusing our attention in the Dapaong region in northern Togo, which is experiencing the threat of desertification to a greater degree.