Artisan Organization: Alaffia

Country: Togo

In rural Togo, African women have a 1 in 32 chance of dying in pregnancy or childbirth. Additionally, without bus service, most youth must walk 10 miles just to get to school. Both these conditions contribute to the fact that over 80% of high school-aged students drop out.

Alaffia founders Olowo-n’djo Tchala, a native Togolese man, and Prairie Rose Hyde, a past Peace Corps Volunteer, direct all profits toward disrupting these conditions. Alaffia’s maternal care initiative fully funds pre- and post-delivery care, and has paid for the births of 3,558 babies. Alaffia also sends used bicycles to Togolese students, effecting a 95% graduation rate among recipients.

Alaffia artisans take pride in offering the benefits of natural African resources and traditional knowledge to the world.