Empowerment through Fair Trade
empowerment and helps them support their families. The impact it has on
the family structure in Africa is huge – women are the backbone of
African societies and influence education which in turn has an impact
on health care (AIDS) and the environment (protection of natural
resources and wildlife).
The promotion of equality is a principle that is embraced whole heartedly by Cebra and her partner Alaffia…..read more for details of how this is translated into the creation of truly ethical skin and hair care products.
We return 10% of our sales (not just profits) to West Africa to fund community enhancement
projects. These projects are designed to help lift our communities out
of poverty and become self-sustaining. Our projects focus on the future
emphasizing the environment, gender equality education and empowering
communities. For more information visit www.empowermentalliance.org.
Empowerment
Women are the backbone of African societies. It is time to
honour their contributions by working towards gender equality. One way
to do this is to place fair monetary value on the unique skills of
African women, such as hand crafting shea butter and compensate them
with fair values for their products and knowledge. This economic and
moral boost encourages gender equality in the family institution. Over
the past 4 years, our Fair Trade cooperative members in Central Togo
have seen a shift in family equality. Their regular salaries help them
support their families and give them more voice in their communities.
Education
We believe that the future of Africa lies in the hands of the
young and that if young Africans are helped with the dilemmas they face
- such as harsh poverty and lack of infrastructure – they will in turn
help Africa in the future. We have several ongoing projects, including
donating school supplies, roofs and furniture and our bicycles for
education project in which we collect used bicycles in the United Staes
to distribute to students in rural Togo.
Environment
Protection
if sub-Saharan Africa’s complex and diverse environment is essential to
the quality of life of present and future generations, especially as
our climates change due to global warming. We are currently focusing on
one major problem, deforestation, through our Reforestation and Shea
Tree Protection programs. To date we have distributed trees to more
than 150 households in Central Togo. We hope to plant more than 500
tress next year, as well as expand the project throughout other regions
of Togo and West Africa.
Sustainable Skin Care
Now, more than ever before, it is important to make decisions
that take into consideration the wellbeing of the generations to come.
To us, sustainable means making choices and actions that improve
current and future living conditions for our communities while
maintaining the cultural and bio-diversities of our planet, including:
- Using
sustainably harvested wild crafted and traditionally extracted
unrefined shea butter for the base of our skin and hair care products - Providing fair wages and prices to our shea butter cooperative members and farmers
- Dedicating 10% of sales proceeds to community enhancement projects in Africa and other parts of the world
The motivation to commit to these principles comes from the hope that our actions will:
- Improve current living standards and promote gender equality and feelings of self worth for individuals in our communities
- Help break the cycle of poverty in Africa and preserve indigenous resources and knowledge for future generations
- Increase awareness of how individual actions and choices affect communities worldwide.
Shea Butter is the oil
from the nuts of wild Shea trees (Vitellaria paradoxa) scattered
throughout the wooded savannah of West and Central Africa. Shea Butter
has been used for centuries in Africa and is completely enmeshed within
the history and culture of the West African savannah. Shea Butter is
mentioned in almost all African historical documents, including a
reference as early as Cleopatra’s Egypt, which mentions caravans
bearing clay jars of Shea Butter for cosmetic use. Funeral beds of
kings were carved in the wood of old Shea Trees, and Shea Butter has
always been a staple of African pharmacology.
Indigenous Knowledge for Skin Care
Shea Butter has been
used for centuries in Africa as a decongestant, an anti-inflammatory
for sprains and arthritis, healing salve, lotion for hair and skin
care, and cooking oil. However, the protective and emollient properties
of Shea Butter are most valued for skin care. In recent clinical
trials, Shea Butter was found to help to protect skin against climate
and UV aggressions, prevent wrinkle formation, soothe irritated and
chapped skin, and moisturise the epidermis. Shea Butter also enhances
cell regeneration and capillary circulation, which helps prevent and
minimize stretch marks, inflammations, and scarring.
Hand crafted &
unrefined Shea Butter contains the maximum amount of healing and
moisturising properties. Chemically extracted and refined Shea Butter
is white and odourless and has reduced beneficial properties. Read more
about the benefits of Unrefined Oils and Butters.
Try Shea Butter on these conditions:
- Wrinkles
- Dry Skin
- Psoriasis
- Massage
- Hair care
- Stretch marks
- Burns
- Arthritis
- Chapped lips
- Sun damage
- Cracked and dry heels or elbows
- Small wounds and scrapes
- Diaper rash (prevention and relief)
- Insect bites & stings
- Muscle fatigue, aches & tension
- Pets (skin infections, dry skin & coats)
How to use Shea Butter
For direct application
to the skin, take a small amount in the palm of your hand. Rub your
hands together to warm up the butter until it is smooth and liquid.
Then apply to your skin. If you are concerned about an oily feeling,
use only a small amount or apply the Shea Butter before going to bed.
Shea Butter absorbs quickly into the skin, but there will be a few
minutes that it feels oily. Shea Butter can also be applied to your
hair. Some people apply it before washing to protect the hair from
harsh shampoos. It can also be applied after washing as a conditioner.
Apply it in the same manner as to the skin.
Fair Trade Shea Butter
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 labour to produce one kilogram of hand crafted 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.
Through our direct involvement in the entire process — from gathering
the wild shea nuts and crafting the butter, to distribution locally and
abroad — our members receive fair and steady incomes. In addition, 10%
of sales will go directly back to our community in the form of
community enhancement projects, AIDS and malaria outreach, and
educational scholarships. We believe in “building African
self-empowerment the moral way” and truly appreciate your involvement
in reaching our goals.
I am very happy to send you trial sizes of our skin and hair car range
if you would like to feature our products in your magazine or
publication.
T. 0117 385 1420
