About the African Fair Trade Society

The AFTS imports Shea Butter from Dakateli, Senegal; and Touba, Guinea. Once in British Columbia, Canada the Shea Butter is then used to produce soap, shampoo, and skin lotion. These products are packaged, and then marketed throughout British Columbia and Alberta via trade shows, the internet, and local community programs.

For a complete list of stores carrying our Products please visit the Stores section of our website.

The African Fair Trade Society uses the profits of our Shea Butter sales to establish a channel of micro-aid to small, impoverished communities in Western Africa. We distribute money and resources without patronage or privilege towards any sector or group within the village. We target funds towards those most in need without bias. Our goal is to invest in the Health and Education infrastructure of rural villages in West Africa. Currently we are working closely with the village of Dakateli in south eastern Senegal, close to the border of Guinea. The following is a break down of our main objectives:

1. Help fund schools and promote education within the community for all children.
This includes purchasing school supplies, such as textbooks, writing instruments, and uniforms. It also means that we intend to support the staff so that schools can remain operational. However, above all else our main focus is that each child in the community is able to receive an education regardless of their economic situation. The main reason children in the community of Dakateli are unable to attend school is due to the simple fact that they have to work in order to help their families survive. This is especially common during the rainy season when many rural industries are washed out.

We aim to remove this burden from these children by providing food and assistance to the families most in need. Through our local agent - Diakemba Sylla - working in Dakateli we target families that need the support of their children to survive. We supplement their incomes and help provide them with food and shelter so that they can allow their children to attend school. Ultimately we feel that in order to build a better future for Africa we need to support our youth through developing skills and education.

2. Support the role of women in their local economies.
The production of Shea Butter, or Karite Butter, is a female dominated industry in Western Africa. By importing Shea butter into Canada we provide the women of West Africa a means to earn fair trade wages, learn new skills, and support their families. Currently the African Fair Trade Society imports this Shea Butter, which is then sold in health stores, and is used to provide employment for women living in Senegal and Guinea villages.

3. Provide medicine for Malaria treatment:
A portion of the funds generated by Shea Butter sales will be directed towards purchasing and supplying medicine to community members at risk, or in need.

4. Build a local Health Clinic:
Currently the closest hospital to Dakateli is well over 3 hours away if traveling conditions are clear. However, during the rainy season if a medical emergency occurs the chances of making it to the hospital in less than three days is very unlikely. The AFTS intends to put a percentage of donations and profits (from the sale of Shea Butter) towards a rural health clinic near the village of Dakateli.

Read about our process for determining recipients of aid.