#GrowHere

"We believe that every

  human being deserves to

  have an opportunity."

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- Olowo-n’djo Tchala

  Founder & CEO

  Alaffia

ALLEVIATING POVERTY, EMPOWERING WOMEN

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Alaffia is a fair-trade skin and body care company that’s creating jobs in Washington — and waging war against poverty in the tiny West African nation of Togo.

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Founded in 2003 by Olowo-n'djo Tchala and his wife Rose, the company’s mission is to alleviate poverty and promote gender equality in West Africa.

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It does this by providing jobs for thousands of women in Togo who collect the shea nuts and other raw ingredients used to create Alaffia’s line of soaps, conditioners, shampoos and lotions.

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The growing company employs 145 people in Olympia, and a network of 17,000 who work directly or indirectly for Alaffia in West Africa.

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“Private enterprise alleviates poverty,” Olowo-n'djo Tchala says. “In the country where I come from, Togo, the people simply need to have a job. And if they have a job, they can help themselves.”