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About Shea Yeleen International

Location:

280 Madison Ave, Suite 912, New York, NY 10016, US

Mission Statement

Shea Yeleen International's mission is to promote sustainable economic development and empower women in rural West Africa through organizing and training women owned cooperatives to produce, market, and sell high quality shea butter; and educate consumers in the U.S. about natural body care products and fair trade.

Description

Shea Yeleen International, Inc. is an organization representing the issues and concerns of rural West African producers of shea butter. We believe in improving the livelihoods of communities by connecting rural communities to international markets in an effort to compete in an increasingly global economy. Through collective community development and support of cooperatives, we bring local issues to consumers interested in learning where their products originate from, and who want to use their consumer power to make a difference in the world.

Our project combines grassroots development with business development and the goal is to improve economic conditions in some of the most impoverished communities of the world. We focus on local resources that can be properly linked to international markets by seeking fair prices for traditional commodities. Through practical solutions, community engagement, resource development, and exceptional marketing, SYI is pioneering change for women producers of shea butter, and their communities!

A strong collaboration has been formed between SYI, Malian professionals, and local women-owned cooperatives with a mission to create sustainable business and socially conscious institutions working in the fight against poverty. SYI raises consumer awareness by connecting the local to the global and generating income for women who have been marginalized by the globalization of shea butter. The ultimate aim is to improve the lives of producers and those of their children and families.

Our central focus is to assist rural West African women who do not have access to the necessary tools and training they need to produce a better quality product. Through helping the women gain access to better production techniques, training and a thriving market, SYI will develop a sustainable business relationship with the women cooperatives. Ultimately our beneficiaries are the women producers who will receive a fair price, and our consumers who will have access to a guaranteed high-quality product that meets their cosmetic and personal beauty needs.