In this podcast, Peggie Bates, a PH&F board member, and I visit the three PH&F villages. In the first, N'Douci, we establish our third chocolate-producing mini-factory. This includes hooking up and troubleshooting all the machinery. And we make a batch of about 35 pounds of chocolate and mold and wrap a few dozen bars and disks.
We also visit the two other already established cooperatives in Depa and Pezoan and exchange news with them as well as work with them on filling out financial forms that will make our job ensuring accountability easier.
We agreed to sign an MOU with TechnoServe, a worldwide non-profit to present "Chocolat des Villages" or Village Chocolates, and we agreed to return in September or October to present our plan to the CCC, the branch of the Ivoirian government that oversees the sales of coffee and cocoa. The goal is also to partner with a large chocolate company that would help develop the village chocolate brand and solve some of the big problems that a small non-profit cannot solve--cost of transportation and import of finished product.
As you listen, I believe you will recognize that we have made remarkable progress and that the donations we have received have gone a long way toward accomplishing our goal or bringing Ivoirian cocoa farmers up the value chain so they can live better lives.
Thanks so much for your past generosity. To help us make progress, please donate...
1. Go to www.projecthopeandfairness.org and click on the Donate button. -OR-
2. Send a check to: Donations, PH&F, 1298 Warren Road, Cambria, CA 93428.
Tom Neuhaus, tom@projecthopeandfairness.org
TO LISTEN TO PODCAST—>
Write to me at tom@projecthopeandfairness.org
To learn more, visit www.projecthopeandfairness.org