The BoxMaker Unites with Alaffia to Empower Young Lives in West Africa
Kent, WA (PRWEB) September 25, 2013 -- Olympia based Fair Trade natural body care company Alaffia is collecting bikes for their Bicycles for Education program at BoxMaker this weekend. Members of the Kent community can drastically change the lives of young students in Togo, West Africa by bringing adult sized bikes and bike parts to BoxMaker, Friday, September 27 from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Since 2004, Alaffia has distributed over 4,500 used bicycles to secondary school students in need of transportation.
Students in rural Togo must often walk 5-15 miles a day to get to school. Because of this, 91% of girls and 48% of boys drop out of school before the 6th grade. In contrast; 95% of the students who receive an Alaffia bike stay in school and graduate.
Alaffia was founded in 2004 by Olowo-n’djo Tchala and his wife and partner Rose Hyde as a means to alleviate poverty and promote gender equality in Olowo-n’djo’s native Togo. They established a Certified Fair Trade Shea butter cooperative in Togo that focuses on traditionally extracting and handcrafting premium quality Shea butter. Alaffia soon after began as a ‘cottage industry’ operation in Olympia; both partners working together to create and promote the Alaffia natural skincare line. By meeting and exceeding rigorous Fair Trade standards and investing sales back into Community Empowerment Projects, they were embraced in local food co-ops.
Today, Alaffia can be found in over 2,000 stores nationwide and has greatly expanded their natural body care lines and community empowerment work. BoxMaker provides Alaffia’s shipping and display boxes. Alaffia selected BoxMaker’s services due to their close proximity to Alaffia’s Olympia facility, and their ability to provide quality boxes with biodegradable ink while only producing only 1% waste.
“We at The BoxMaker strive to empower our coworkers with continuous training and education. This cause aligns greatly with our goal to promote education as a way to better our communities. We are very excited to host Alaffia’s Bike drive. “said Linzie Reynolds, Marketing & Events Coordinator at The BoxMaker.
Those donating a bike will be entered to win an Alaffia gift basket. All donations are tax deductible.
Friday, Sept. 27 / 12 pm – 5 pm
BoxMaker
6412 S 190th Street, Kent, WA 98032
For more information on Alaffia’s Community Empowerment Projects visit Alaffia’s website: http://www.alaffia.com/
1-800-664-8005 or email bikes(at)alaffia(dot)com.
Linzie Reynolds, The BoxMaker, http://www.boxmaker.com, +1 (425) 291-1226, [email protected]
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