Abel Adje, iLEAP International Fellow 2008

Global Alliance for Community Empowerment

Program Coordinator

TOGO

Organization

Global Alliance for Community Empowerment (GACE) is a non profit organization established by Alaffia and Agbanga Karite, LLC.  Located in Olympia, Washington, Alaffia utilizes fairly traded shea butter produced by the Alaffia/Agbanga Karite Shea Butter Cooperative in Togo to produce and sell a diverse array of sustainable skin care products.  Alaffia uses 10% of their sales to support GACE and its efforts to empower African communities through the advancement of fair trade, education, sustainable living, and gender equality.  In order to aid African communities in achieving a standard of living that is sustainable, ethical and fair, GACE is engaged in a number of co

mmunity enhancement projects.  These projects include: The Fousena Fund, which organizes community trainings in prenatal care in Togolese communities; Bicycles for Education, a program that provides bicycles and bicycle maintenance training to rural students who must walk over 10 kilometers a day to attend school; fair trade education; shea tree conservation and planting; and reforestation programs.

Work, Accomplishments and Challenges

Mr. Adje’s deep understanding of Togo’s many ethnic groups, their cultures, community involvement, and participation levels has led to the establishment and success of several GACE and Alaffia community empowerment projects.  Mr. Adje is the chief coordinator in Togo for GACE’s reforestation and Bikes for Education projects.  He listens to and collaborates with local communities to hold multiple town meetings, create realistic budgets, and successfully implement various projects.  Mr. Adje serves with considerable skill, patience, and dedication.  Though he has worked for more than 10 years to promote sustainable development in rural African communities, Mr. Adje feels he still has much to learn to keep abreast of the challenges the poor, rural communities in which he works face.

Value of iLEAP International Fellowship

Mr. Adje believes the iLEAP Fellowship program will help him grow as a leader, improve his ability to communicate effectively and mobilize community support and participation.  By participating in the Fellowship program and sharing experiences with his peers, Mr. Adje intends to gain a better understanding of education, community health, and environmental protection.  The iLEAP experience will provide opportunities for Mr. Adje to learn more about issues that pertain to service, the environment, and community mobilization; and cultivate relationships with organizations in Seattle working in the same field as GACE.