OLYMPIA, WA -- 06/30/08 --
From June 30 to July 2, 2008, Alaffia will be
loading three 40 foot shipping containers with 2,000 bicycles destined for
Togo, West Africa. With the help of local volunteers and natural foods
stores, Alaffia collects used bicycles for their Bicycles for Education
program and distributes them to disadvantaged Togolese students, mainly
girls, as an incentive to stay in school. The live loading is at 8300
Steamboat Island Rd, Olympia, WA from 10-2 PDT.
The Bicycles for Education program is critical for empowering youth and
decreasing poverty in Togo, where the average yearly income is less than
$300. While most girls and boys in Togo complete primary school,
attendance drops off rapidly in higher grades. According to UNICEF, 90% of
girls in rural areas drop out before finishing secondary school. Rural
students may walk 10 miles a day to attend school, and the time and energy
required are deterrents to continuing school for girls, who have more
household chores than boys. Olowo-n'djo Tchala, founder of Alaffia and
Togolese native, states, "We believe that these bicycles will provide an
incentive for girls to remain in school."
Togo cannot move out of poverty without educating its youth. The lack of
education in the female population continues gender and economic
inequalities. "We feel it is especially important to empower our female
students, and for this reason, this shipment will be primarily distributed
to girls in 50 different villages. I strongly believe that our communities
in West Africa will gain the tools for self-empowerment through projects
that encourage respect and gender equality," says Tchala.
For additional information on the Alaffia Bicycles for Education project,
contact Olowo-n'djo Tchala or visit www.alaffia.com.
ABOUT ALAFFIA -- Olowo-n'djo Tchala founded Alaffia in 2004 to support
community empowerment projects in his native Togo. Alaffia manufactures
natural shea butter personal care products in Olympia, WA. The shea butter
is produced in Togo by Alaffia's fair trade certified cooperative and
shipped to Olympia, where is it the primary ingredient in Alaffia's premium
handmade skin moisturizers, soaps and hair care products. Alaffia products
are available at health and natural food stores, including co-ops and Whole
Foods Markets, across the United States.
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CONTACT:
Olowo-n'djo Tchala
Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care
T: 360-866-0080
F: 360-252-8999
Email Contact
www.alaffia.com
