EveryDay Shea was created by Alaffia as a means of increasing shea butter production at our cooperatives in Togo while offering a value size lotion to customers in these tough economic times. Like other Alaffia products, 10% of EveryDay Shea sales are allocated to support Alaffia's community empowerment projects in West Africa. These projects are aimed at reducing poverty and empowering women in poor communities in Togo, and include:
Bicycles for Education: Donations of used bicycles from our US communities give disadvantaged students in Togo the incentive to stay in school. We have sent more than 3500 bicycles to Togo and distributed them to girls and boys in more than 70 villages.
Maternal Health: 1 in every 16 women faces death from pregnancy and birth related complications in West Africa. Alaffia funds prenatal care for 700 mothers each year to help reduce maternal deaths, since saving mothers is critical for reducing poverty in our communities.
School Supplies & Repairs: Spending on education in Togo has dropped by half over the past ten years, meaning families and communities must make up the difference. Every year, we donate school supplies to hundreds of families. Alaffia also donates metal roofs, bench seats, and school supplies to rural schools in central Togo to help these communities maintain their schools. In 2011, we built our first high school in Kouloumi, Togo.
Reforestation To help mitigate the effects of climate change, combat deforestation, and prevent soil erosion in our Togolese communities, we plant 8,000 trees each year.