Moringa Inc.

Jordan here: So its getting to that time in our service timeline that we all have any idea of what our community (in our opinion) needs and also what our community thinks they need/want. Some of these things are near impossible for us to bring to them. For example, the Kulfuo chief wanted me to build a borehole (hand water pump) or wanted me to build a dam. Hmmm, I had to explain to him that Peace Corps acts with grass-roots change and not large-scale NGO type projects with big bucks. Its understandable since most of the white people they see are representing big companies or NGOs.
Peace Corps placement committees explained my primary project would be working with women's group on shea nut and shea butter production and processing. A bit vague when I realized there's a whole lot more about the whole system of shea I needed to understand. There's a whole culture established over generations and generations of this already in place that will be difficult to change. I think I'll save another blog post for talking more on this.
However, another potential project was developing use of moringa in the village. A little background: Moringa is a tree that grows quite well in hot, dry places in the world. For example, sub-saharan and saharan Africa (where we are). Its leaves don't create a lot of shade, it grows fast, and is a very hardy tree. The most peculiar thing is the leaves (especially) and other parts are very useful and contain a ridiculous amount of of essential nutrients! This tree has been used as a way to combat malnutrition all across Africa. A very large campaign was run through Senegal. Powder made from grinding the dried leaves was instructed to be added to breast-feeding mothers' food as well as food children older than 6 months were ready to eat. The health of the mothers, stressed from depleting nutrients, and the quickly growing children increase weight and have fewer illnesses. People who used the leaves in their food or teas have more energy, strength, and a whole slew of positive outcomes when taken regularly. The leaves are medicinal as well! When added to soap, it helps to cures certain rashes and irritated skin, much like aloe or shea butter. The tree is also great here since it can be incorporated directly within crops since its shade doesn't significantly affect sun radiation needed for crop growth. The benefits seem to go on and on...
So as I investigated my community I immediately noticed a handful of the trees around and assumed the people were aware of their benefits of the tree. Turns out they had no idea and were just planting for decoration. Since it was a fresh topic, I decided to try to educate and see how receptive they were to trying to incorporate moringa products into their daily lives. An NGO in Tumu called SILDEP (Sisalli Literacy Development Program) was drying the leaves and adding dried lemon grass as a tea. I bought some and brought it back to circles drinking tea on a regular basis and the stuff was fabulous! They wanted to buy more and it gave me an opportunity to tell them they could make it themselves. I also explained they could make soap with it that is far superior to the local soap they make. They were very quickly interested in how to start making it and selling the moringa-based products.
The interest in making things from tree leaves gave me a chance to tell them about my/our plan to start up a large tree nursery. With the community's help, we could plant plenty more moringa trees to allow them to make these products on a larger scale. They loved it and now I'm just trying to reach out to the right resources to make sure the project comes through.
So God willing, we'll have plenty more trees that they'll appreciate and protect from bush fires and won't cut down for farmland. This achieves one of my personal goals of enriching and protecting the environment. It would also serve to achieve another goal of helping others to help themselves. If trained well, and managed well, a livelihood could be developed for people here who struggle to make ends meet. They could be healthier and more financially stable. Who knows, that income could send students to high school who might not have been able before.
So I started thinking, I wonder if people in America would like these products ie a highly nutritious all natural food flavoring, all natural tea and all natural moisturizing soap. In essence high quality products produced by people that could really benefit from the business. Then over the holidays, Sarah and I gave some soap and tea to Kelsey for a Christmas present. I knew she'd like it because she had done a lot of research on moringa before coming to Ghana for a class proposal. She looked at me and said "I think we should bottle this and sell it back home" and a kernel of interest brewed between the three of us about bringing this back to America and developing a business that could be for-profit but still make giving a fair price to the producers in Ghana. A whole slew of benefits started to come. More trees planted, protected, less burning, more business for women, more education on nutrition and health etc etc besides the fact that I think we could really make a great product that is relatively new market in back in America and Canada. A little research showed only a few decent sized companies online selling moringa products. Given the choice, I think people would prefer one that gives back to a community that needs the help.
Kels had just been reading a book written by Blake Mycoskie, founder of Toms, a shoe company that gives a new pair of shoes to kids in developing countries that don't have shoes. For every pair you buy, Toms gives a pair away, One for One they call it. His book encourages entrepreneurs to make giving a main part of their business model and everyone wins! When she finished it, she gave it to me and I was very inspired. Now we truly want to give this business a shot, starting small of course.
Here's where you come in. Our fabulous supporters back home can be our guinea pigs :) I know some people have asked about wanting to send things, or donate to us for a project etc. Kelsey will head home to Canada in August and Sarah and I will visit America for Christmas 2012 and we want to drag home some products and try selling them. Then we'd like to hear what they thought about the product, the story behind the business, and if you think we would be able to sell more of it. Our 'pie-in-the-sky' vision would be a sustainable for-profit business partnering with villages producing the products for a fair price. We would be completely transparent with where the money was going and we'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this venture.
One option would be to contact us saying you're interesting in buying some products and trying them so we can tell our groups that we can guarantee we will buy some of their products if they work to become organized and make the products. I think that would help to jump start their confidence in the investment. I made a Facebook page called Moringa Inc. and I invite you all to follow it and get involved. If you're interested in buying something, be it soap, tea, or the powder, let me know and I'd love to be in contact with you! You can also leave a simple comment on the blog saying you would be interested in trying them out and I'll keep you involved every step of the way.
Anyway, there will definitely be more to come with the progress of the whole project, but I would love to have you all be supporters and hear your thoughts on making this successful! A simple comment saying you'd be interested in the project and/or putting an order in will give me the enthusiasm to push this awesome idea. Stay tuned!