Rahama Wright is on a mission to empower women in West Africa’s shea butter subsector. Between 20o2 and 2004, when she volunteered as a Peace Corps member in the village of fracophone country, she was assigned to a community health centre in Dio. There, she witnessed how women struggled to afford medical care, treatment, and necessities due to financial constraints despite their hard labour. This reality ignited her quest to research and understand the economic ventures available to these women, leading her to discover the world of shea butter.
She discovered that Shea Butter was a pathway to economic empowerment. The women already possessed the skill, knowledge, and resources to produce high-quality shea butter, yet they remained impoverished, unable to access international markets or earn fair wages.
In 2005, Wright founded Shea Yeleen, a non-profit organisation focused on training and supporting women-led cooperatives in Ghana, providing them with fair wages and direct access to buyers of Shea Butter.
The organisation faced challenges with financial sustainability, making it difficult for her to keep it afloat. Although many supported the vision, few were willing to pay premium prices for ethically sourced raw shea butter.
Subsequently, Rahama Wright transitioned Shea Yeleen into a for-profit social enterprise in 2014. This strategic shift allowed the company to develop its line of shea butter products, ensuring that the benefits of the global beauty market were directly returned to the producers.
By combining traditional methods of shea butter extraction with modern business practices, Shea Yeleen introduced high-quality, natural skincare products to consumers while improving the economic status of its producers.
“The 100% natural Shea butter has done wonders to my skin. It is extremely moisturising, and I love the natural scent.”-Customer review.
Shea Yeleen has successfully trained thousands of women in Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Mali on quality shea butter production and how to monetise their skills.
Over the years, the brand’s products have been sold at major retailers, including 65 Whole Foods Market stores on the United States East Coast.
In 2021, the Shea Yeleen brand was one of the beneficiaries of the Anastasia Beverly Hills (ABH) $450,000 Grant awarded to five beauty brand founders. The funding aimed to enhance the growth and sustainability of these enterprises.
Rahama Wright pays cooperative members five times the local minimum wage. The brand has an equitable payment structure and ensures that women who previously earned less than $2 per day can earn over $10. This substantial increase ensures that the women receive fair compensation for their labour, directly impacting their economic well-being.
The increase in payment has improved women’s financial stability and empowered them to invest in their families and communities.
Beyond fair wages, Shea Yeleen provides cooperative members access to health insurance, further enhancing their quality of life and ensuring holistic support for these women and their families.
