It’s a struggle and beyond tough. I’ve been on a pandemic diet that has seen me yo-yo plus minus 6 pounds in either direction.  And now many of us have realized that the way to deal with this Imbalance, with these anxieties and with the unknowns of Covid is to re-balance and to re-focus.  

*Real moringa stories are brought to you from our moringa superfans who want to share their personal experiences with the greater community. We are grateful to our Kuli Kuli Collective members, and their dedication and passion to superfoods that nourish the world!

Balance of Mind, Spirit and Body in the Age of Covid

In the middle of all of this noise and distractions, how does one cope? I’ve started a new routine and it’s called walking. It’s really enhanced walking to me, which can last from 45 to 85 minutes, depending on the podcast(s) I’m listening to.

I find that walking around 6 am in the morning gives me a sense of stillness and peacefulness that prepares me for the uncertainty of the day. And I’ve been able to listen to a wide variety of topics that I normally don’t:  history of mathematics, plant-based business hour, Freakonomics radio, race relations, Latino Founder hours, etc.

And in the course of this journey, I found myself gravitating more towards health, wellness and food podcasts for which many talk about and educate about plant based and vegan options.  I’m what you could call a FlexiTarian — a Vegan-Curious Consumer. I don’t adhere to a vegan lifestyle, but I have a curious palate and willingness to indulge. What has mesmerized me are the tremendous leaps made in terms of texture, taste and consistency. Long gone are the Tofu for all days, all occasions, all cuisines mantra.

Moringa and #MeatlessMondays

So I’ve been slowly gravitating and strongly encouraging my family to continue to celebrate #MeatlessMondays but to have them on a more regular basis, even if it’s not Monday. And it totally makes sense, since every day feels like a Blursday.

Moringa is great in fruity smoothies.

So part of the re-balancing involves being totally present with my family during dinner time –without electronic devices.  In the morning, we have power smoothies and/or vitamins every other day.  These days, I’ve also added moringa on a rotational basis to other foods — I sprinkle it on my hummus, on my honey mustard and soy sauce dressing, I even added it to the chayote onion, curry, cheese stuffing that I make.

We are grateful. We remind each other that we are very fortunate and that we can continue with the majority of our lifestyle habits during the surrealness we are living.   What irritates us are inconveniences — that is all.  And of course, we continue to binge on Netflix to distract our minds. We’re currently on Season 4 of “Shameless” and hooked….. Sending blessings to you for continued balance, tranquility and #MoringaAnyDay kind of days!

Special Promo from Me to You!

Now it’s time to stock up on your moringa powder, bars, smoothie mix and shots and save 15% with this link, from me Sergio, to you. Cheers to your health!

How do you find balance these days? Let us know in the comments below!

Follow us @kulikulifoods so we can see some of your favorite ways to add this energizing superfood to your daily routine.

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Nebeday, or moringa, is famous across Senegal.

Nebeday is a highly nutritious medicinal plant that can grow almost anywhere. It thrives nearly everywhere—from the flat and sandy deserts of the north, to the cool coastal regions, and even to the mangroves and waterfalls of the humid south.

Moringa trees line the classrooms of the Peace Corps training center in Thiès, Senegal.  The seeds, leaves, and pods of these trees are used by volunteers in sectors of agriculture, health, and economic development. Volunteers and trainees pass these trees every day as they attend and lead sessions on cultural integration, Peace Corps policies, and technical field training. 

Volunteers and Senegalese national counterparts work together to incorporate innovative ways to help local communities sell the leaves, either in cooked dishes or as a nutritious powder. Throughout Senegal, moringa is sold in local markets and even exported overseas. 

My Moringa Peace Corps Journey

Peace Corps volunteers help in several ways. One way is to guide communities in planting moringa intensive beds in households and community gardens.  The health benefits of the leaves—which contain essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins—are extremely valuable to communities. This is especially true now that local communities have increasing rates of diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. These ailments are largely due to the increasing popularity of imports such as refined oil and sugar.  

Moringa Tree with Hanging Leaves.

I arrived in Senegal as a Community Economic Development volunteer. I also arrived as a vegetarian with an active lifestyle and passion for nutrition.I knew that I wanted to incorporate moringa into my work and diet, but I didn’t know what that would mean yet.  

When I arrived at my site—a village of 1000 people in the Kédougou region in the southeast of Senegal—I noticed that moringa trees were already present throughout the community. Many people add the leaves to a thick, nourishing sauce with other seasonal leaves, ground peanuts, onion, and spices. 

This sauce is then poured over cornmeal couscous, made by pounding corn to a meal, steaming it three times over a charcoal or wood fire, and sifting in powdered baobab leaves.  

Nebeday Trainings

Over the course of my service, with the wonderful guidance of my counterpart Adama Sidibe, a community women’s group leader, I offered trainings. These trainings for the community explored  the health benefits of moringa, and how to make moringa into a nutritious powder. We also tried different methods of making moringa into juices and syrups by mixing pounded moringa leaves with ginger and local honey.

I also grew moringa trees in the backyard of my hut, and incorporated the leaves into my daily diet. It amazed me how much more energy and resilience to the heat I felt once I started eating moringa every day.  

A breakfast item that you can find throughout Senegal is baguette with beans, peas, or egg. I would go to sandwich stands and add moringa leaves or powder to my sandwich, usually while explaining the health benefits to amused onlookers and sandwich makers.

I also popularized a (very hip) drink that I called a “moringa latte.” I made this in my hut on a gas canister stove, by mixing a spoonful of moringa powder with milk powder, sugar or honey, and hot water. It might have just been that I wasn’t near any coffee shops, but I truly thought the drink resembled a matcha latte! I also liked to sprinkle moringa on top of rice dishes, and on my oatmeal.  

Abrupt Evacuation: I Had 48 Hours to Leave

When the decision was made to evacuate all Peace Corps Volunteers worldwide due to the COVOID-19 pandemic, I was devastated to leave my community a year earlier than expected.  I had only 48 hours to say goodbye to my new family and friends that I had made during the year. Therefore, it was impossible to explain the evacuation situation adequately to counterparts on my unfinished projects. 

I tried to travel to the US with a bag of moringa powder. I wanted to share it with my friends and family back at home.  Since I always kept a bag of moringa powder in my backpack when I was traveling around Senegal (always prepared to come across a sandwich stand), I decided to put my moringa into my small backpack of carry-on luggage. 

Peace Corps Volunteers Heading Home

Unfortunately, the plastic bag exploded due to cabin pressure. I found myself in the bathroom by the baggage claim at the DC airport at 2am, frantically trying to clean up the mess. The suspicious green powder that now covered my kindle, sweatshirt, journal, pens—and entire interior of my backpack—might not be the most impressive to a customs officer. 

I finished cleaning just in time to take a final (masked) group picture with my stagements. These are the volunteers I’d trained and served with for a year. After this picture, we left to our final destinations throughout the country.

Stumbling Upon Kuli Kuli

Back in California, I found myself missing my nebeday, especially in my oatmeal and smoothies. I was so excited when I saw Kuli Kuli’s powder at Whole Foods! Right away, I bought some and researched the company. I was amazed to see that Kuli Kuli was started by a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. I also learned that Kuli Kuli supported local communities in African countries that grow moringa, by sourcing moringa from small local collectives.  

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, I had the opportunity to see first-hand the empowerment and sustainable economic benefit this kind of project can have. Especially when done in a way that empowers community members. It’s great to see how a Peace Corps service can be made into a lifelong project that supports health and sustainability across the country and globe.  

Closing Thoughts

Seeing companies like Kuli Kuli doing so well gives me inspiration and hope in these uncertain times.  It is a reminder that sometimes things don’t go the way that you envisioned. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t still aspire to things or create goals.

It’s about adjusting to “what is” and making the most of what you find around you, wherever you are. My Peace Corps service was cut short. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value to me now that I’m back in the US.  

If we, as individuals, each choose to consciously follow a path guided by love and support for our own health and the health of our global communities, I believe that we, as a human collective, can come out of this time stronger and more together.

And eventually, we will be okay. 

Village Huts in Bandafassi, Senegal.

Many thanks to Emme S. for this personal piece, and for all of her Peace Corps work in Senegal. 

Follow us @kulikulifoods to learn more about moringa can uplift communities and nourish the world.

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As a moringa based company, Kuli Kuli frequently shares our overarching vision to bring moringa to the masses. As one of the most nutrient-dense plants on the planet, we know that the moringa tree has the capability to impact many lives around the world. However, we are not alone on this mission! From the farmers who grow this powerful super green to the individuals who blend it into smoothies, we all play a role in the moringa movement.

James Brady of Con10u2farm

Meet James Brady of Con10u2farm

Today, we are recognizing James Brady, Founder of Con10u2farmL3c, a 21st Century Agtech Consulting firm specializing in Adaptive Growing Modules with recirculating water systems. James has been an influential individual in this movement as he consults with organizations around the nation for Agriculture Grant evaluations while pursuing the establishment of moringa 

James Brady and a colleague working with moringa leaves and powder

growing projects at Universities across America. James and Con10u2farm also partner with the Sacramento County Health Department, allowing his work to recruit schools through their Champion for Change Footprint. With a 25K investment,

Con10u2farm designed gardens for 15 schools along with apartment complexes, a Home for Girls, and a Boys and Girls Club. His last Greenhouse install was at the Sacramento Boys and Girls Club in 2018, which includes a 100-watt solar panel.

In 2018, James also able to include new Agriculture curriculum in Pittsburg, CA School District and is now being piloted in Williams, CA School District, and will be published at UC Davis this year.  As a Veteran, James has been awarded the’Homegrown Hero Label’  by the Farmers Veterans Coalition in Davis, CA for his incredible work.

One of the greenhouses implemented by Con10u2farm

In James’ words:

I believe Urban Agriculture may be considered an adaption strategy. This strategy brings multiple benefits to cities and large urban populations that are directly and indirectly affected by climate change, with the urban poor being most at risk. To address this problem we must look at the General Plans for clues that embrace Urban Agriculture Ordinances. We must organize local agriculturists to support Urban Ag. before city councils to push forward these ordinances as we did in Sacramento five years ago. We can then scale the ordinances to include aquaponics, hydroponics, and 21st Century organic growing methods that are cost effective and produces without chemicals.

We promote Urban Agriculture and Civic Engagement for all distressed communities. This starts with a AgricultureOrdinances that promote economic vitality and self sufficiency. Vacant lots and building rooftops could be used to grow nutritious food in smaller spaces for profit and provide tax credits to property owners. Their products such as moringa at a local APP whichs connects all local grower and consumers with buyers. 

It is vital that people start to grow food for themselves as many begin to experience food insecurity and recalls from big farmers. I would encourage all people to grow their health care, and it starts with a Moringa Tree in every the yard.

Con10u2farm’s vision is to change the way humans view food security and to impact the nation’s number one pandemic of diabetes and obesity, and do so by promoting Moringa! Kuli Kuli is grateful for partners in our community like James and Con10u2farm, who are significantly strengthening the moringa movement within the United States. 

To learn more about the working James in doing in his communities and through the moringa tree, visit Con10u2farm online!

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This was especially true when Klementine’s fourth child was born premature. She was so small and weak, the family was not sure if she would survive.

“Gracia was born two months early and I was really scared. Then I remembered my Strong Harvest moringa training where I learned that moringa increases milk production. I started using moringa leaves for my daily tea and my milk came in strong. Gracia is now a healthy baby!”

Moringa has played a crucial role in this child’s survival. Before Gracia was born, Klementine had completed Strong Harvest Internationals’ moringa training. She learned about basic nutrition, growing and harvesting moringa, along with its many benefits. She planted moringa trees in the shared yard near her house, but then didn’t think much more about it.

Shortly after Gracia was born, Pastor Moses was visiting the family and saw that the baby was struggling. He reminded Klementine of the many powerful benefits of moringa and she started making tea from moringa leaves and drinking it every day. Soon, she was producing more breast milk forher baby to drink, and very quickly, Gracia started growing strong thanks to the increase in quantity and nutritious value of her mother’s milk.

Klementine continues to grow and eat moringa. She has noticed positive changes for herself and in her children’s health from including moringa in their daily diets. Everyone has been putting on healthy weight and they are able to fight off illness better than ever before. It’s all thanks to the wonderful training done by our partners at Strong Harvest and the miracle tree moringa.

Strong Harvest puts the power of sustainable change into the hands of the people who need it most. They believe that everyone should have access to sustainable sources of good nutrition, clean water, and economic opportunities, while at the same time protecting and caring for the local and global environment.

To make this a reality, they work in partnership with developing-world communities and organizations, like Kuli Kuli, to provide attainable, sustainable, and generational solutions to the issues of malnutrition, unsafe drinking water, lack of economic opportunity, and land degradation. Their primary tool is the moringa tree.

The solution really can be as simple as a tree!

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Rick and Jeri are the founders of Strong Harvest, an organization that works in six countries around the world. Their primary focus is to spread knowledge of moringa’s vast nutritional benefits as a tool for populations vulnerable to malnutrition. They have a very successful training of trainers program that includes Continuing Education Workshops, which is what they were doing on this fateful day in Nicaragua.

Rick and Jeri had planned their visit to this village with the idea of doing an all day moringa training followed by a couple promised home visits. Throughout the day, Isabella, who they trained as a Peer Educator the year prior, would not leave them alone. After following them to both home visits, Rick and Jeri, despite their exhaustion, recognized her eagerness and obliged to also visit her home. They didn’t know it at the time, but they were about to meet a Moringa Miracle Maker.

Behind closed doors, Isabella emotionally confessed the reason she dragged them to her house. She couldn’t tell them in front of the group, but she had been suffering from a chronic illness and had been experimenting with moringa as a supplement to ease the symptoms. Due to the illness, she gets regular testing done with her doctor. Her most recent testing prompted her doctor to ask her what she was doing differently. He was pleasantly surprised by her weight gain and positive blood tests. The only thing she had changed? Eating moringa!

Isabella had received a moringa training from Strong Harvest six months prior to that doctor’s visit and took the information to heart. She had planted moringa trees in her backyard that she said she started to nurture and “love them like they are part of my family”. For Isabella, these tree-children gave her back her health.

After eating the leaves everyday, Isabella started to feel stronger and healthier. She is so convinced by moringa’s nutritional and medicinal value that she has been telling everybody in her community about it. After amazing her doctor by her sudden health improvements, she was able to give an impromptu moringa training, right there in the health center to the ten other patients present. Isabella says “the important thing is not to just learn but to share what we are learning with others. If we just learn and keep it to ourselves it is not good”.

Before her training with Strong Harvest, Isabella had no idea how important moringa is or what moringa looked like. Now, when she sees it in a neighbor’s yard she approaches them and asks it they know about it and if they want to know more. Isabella is confident that little by little the word of moringa will spread and will be able to improve the lives of many.

Isabella is a beautiful example of how one Moringa Miracle Maker spreading the word can reshape a whole community. We are honored to work with people like Isabella and organizations like Strong Harvest.

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It takes a certain kind of person to work as a nurse anywhere in the world, particularly in West Africa where malnutrition and malaria cases plague health centers. Honorine is the sole nurse in her village’s health center, seeing up to 20 patients a week, with one consistent request for each of them: “Eat Moringa“.

When Honorine received training from Kuli Kuli’s wonderful partners at Strong Harvest, her life changed and, subsequently so did those who entered her health center. Along with malaria, parasites and infections, a large proportion of patients suffer from anemia and malnutrition, two ailments alleviated with regular moringa consumption.

Strong Harvest is invited into communities, such as Honorine’s village in rural Togo, West Africa, to present free trainings for all who are interested. The trainers explain basic nutritional education that is so often neglected in rural schools. Knowledge that so many of us with privilege take for granted. Simple things such as when your body needs water even if you don’t feel thirsty or feeling full doesn’t mean you’re meeting your nutritional needs.

After ensuring everybody in the room has a strong enough foundation, the training continues to discuss the scrappy tree growing around village – aka – the miracle tree! Although many in the room are familiar with moringa and perhaps have eaten it as a last resort when money was too tight to go to the market, very few understand the vast nutritional benefits.

The trainer explains how moringa has more nutritional value than oranges, milk and meat – food items difficult and expensive to find in rural Togo. Honorine, who has witnessed enough malnourished youth to understand the importance of such a statement, was eager to start spreading moringa around her community.

Honorine planted trees behind the health center and encourages every patient to take leaves to put in their morning porridge and nightly sauce. Better yet, she hands them a bag of seeds and advises them how to plant moringa near their homes so they have no excuse not to eat moringa everyday. She does all this free of charge. She says moringa is too powerful of a tool to be kept a secret or charged for.

Within a year of discovering moringa, Honorine encountered many miracles she was eager to share with us. One day, a man came into her health center with a rash and sore all over his body. After cleaning him off, she gave him moringa to eat regularly. Likely due to the natural anti inflammatory properties of moringa that rival turmeric, he returned to her happy and healed. Another patient was having difficulties producing milk for her newborn child. Honorine recommended moringa which is high in calcium, iron and folic acid, three vitamins that help mothers enhance lactation. Through these recommendations, Honorine was able to provide the patients unable to afford medication with a better alternative to oftentimes sketchy traditional healers or neglecting treatment altogether.

Honorine is a beautiful example of how one moringa miracle maker spreading the word can reshape a whole community. We are honored to work with people like Honorine and organizations like Strong Harvest.

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Planting moringa trees is good for the world because it promotes nutritional security and provides income generating activities for smallholder farmers around the world. Kuli Kuli is dedicated to building a moringa supply chain that supports regenerative agro-forestry and creates sustainable livelihoods for its supplier partners.

To celebrate Earth Month, Kuli Kuli is fulfilling its mission by both planting trees and supporting access to finance world’s vulnerable populations. This April, 1% of all Kuli Kuli’s sales at Whole Foods will go towards planting 3,000 moringa trees with in Ghana and supporting micro-loans through Whole Planet Foundation.

Planting 3,000 moringa trees in Ghana addresses environmental restoration and drives economic opportunity. Kuli Kuli is thrilled to work closely with its supplier partner, True Moringa, a Ghanaian social enterprise that works with hundreds of farmers. One such farmer is Akosua Krah, whose life has been forever changed after she began working with moringa.

Seeds of Hope

Akosua knows moringa seeds better than most people. Every day, she wakes up, feeds her children, gets them to school and goes to work with on her personal plot on the True Moringa farm. Resilient like the moringa seed, Akosua thrives in conditions that are not always easy. She works the soil even though though it is sandy and depleted from nutrients after generations of farming. Luckily, the moringa tree is still able to thrive in these conditions, providing nitrogen back into the soil and converting carbon dioxide into the very oxygen Akosua and her community breathe. To Akosua, these seeds represent more than just life, they are her ticket to economic freedom.

The Future is in the Strong Hands of Women Farmers

Six months after pinching the earth around the moringa seed, Akosua returns to a meter high moringa tree to harvest the tiny leaves that adorn the branches. She snips the branches, sheds them of their leaves and prepares them for wash and drying. Since moringa processing is culturally seen as woman’s work, she is able to take the opportunity to be financially liberated with little pushback from her village. She is able to use her own funds for food and her kids’ school fees, rather than borrowing from others and going into debt.

Moringa Nourishes the World

When her work day is done, Akosua takes some snips of moringa home to prepare dinner for her children. She believe because of moringa, they do not fall victim to malnourishment, an ailment that impacts one in five children in Ghana (UNICEF). The moringa that is not consumed by her family is processed into a high quality powder that is exported to Kuli Kuli, with a portion of those profits going into Akosua’s pocket. Once in the hands of Kuli Kuli, the powder is packaged and sold across the U.S., reaching the mouths of thousands of Whole Foods shoppers looking for a convenient solution to increase the amount of nutrient-dense greens in their diets.

Akosua is a leader in her community and an example of the opportunities moringa can bring to vulnerable populations. Through partnerships with organizations like Whole Planet Foundation and True Moringa, Kuli Kuli is harnessing the power of moringa to improve nutrition and livelihoods around the world.

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This year’s theme is: Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change. There is no better theme and month to celebrate a few of the many excellent women activists, pioneers and innovators who have not only shaped sustainability, health, food security and agriculture, but have also broken the glass ceiling for women while successfully making a positive contribution beyond their local contexts.

There are many women to celebrate, but we would like to highlight the following 6 remarkable women, and encourage you to learn more about them:

Kavita Shukla

One of the most exciting young innovators on our list is working on alleviating food insecurity. Following her childhood experience with her grandmother mixing spices to curb the effects of drinking tap water in India, Kavita Shukla discovered the healing properties of spices, and began creating her own chemical experiments.

Now, Shukla is the Founder and CEO of the FRESHGLOW Co, and inventor of FRESHPAPER, a low-cost innovation using spice combinations to inhibit fungal and bacterial growth, and in turn preserving fresh food for longer. The price point of her innovation makes it accessible to all, from farmers to families from low to high income homes. Amongst the many accolades, she has been recognized as one of Forbes 30 under 30: Social Entrepreneurs, included in Fast Company’s list of ‘7 Entrepreneurs changing the World’, and TIME Magazines ‘5 Most Innovative Women in Food’. Finally, she is the youngest woman to receive the INDEX Design to Improve Life Award.

Eugénie Faïzoun

Fatoumata Bineta Diop

The following young leader, plays an integral role in supporting women farmers in Senegal, while inspiring youth to be passionate about entering the agriculture space. Serving as the coordinator of Senegal’s National Board of Women in Livestock Farming, Fatoumata Bineta Diop’s primary focus is to draw the youth to agriculture by creating an avenue for intergenerational knowledge sharing, to exist and thrive.

By doing so, Diop aims to preserve indigenous farming practices amongst the youth, and in turn, ensure that agriculture stays a lucrative source of employment for youth, and that the traditional practice remains a key part of the country.

Berta Cáceras

While she was deemed an activist, that word alone cannot capture the revolutionary woman that was Berta Cáceras. A Honduran native, Cáceras was mainly recognized for her role as an environmental, gender equality and human rights activist. Amongst her many great achievements, one of the noteworthy parts of her legacy include her successful campaign, alongside her indigenous Lenca community, against the largest dam developer in the world. Her campaign successfully stopped the construction of the Agua Zarca Dam which was set to be constructed on the Gualcarque River.

Unfortunately, her relentlessness in her activism, coupled with Honduras’ violent climate towards environmental and human rights activists, led to her assassination. The event of the assassination enraged the international community, however she is still fondly remembered for her bravery which earned her accolades including the Goldman Environmental Prize, and being a finalist for the Front Line Defenders Prize.

Wangari Maathai

Finally, the list would not be complete without the titan, Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmentalist and sustainability enthusiast. Maathai became the first Africa’s first woman Nobel Laureate, and the first environmentalist in the world to get that honor. Driven by her vision to see natural scenery rehabilitated and celebrated, she single-handedly restored the Kenyan landscape by planting trees. She founded the Green Belt Movement, in order to motivate her fellow Kenyans to know and actively participate in environmental affairs and replanting trees. Outside of the Green Belt Movement, she was a well-known advocate for women, poverty alleviation and justice.

Beyond their innovations and activism within the sustainability, food security and poverty alleviation fields, what ties these women together, is their drive to create change, and empower other women in doing the same.

Rozanna Medina

Hailing from Bolivia, our next brilliant innovator is using agricultural innovation to increase her country’s crop production, and contribute to food security. Working in Bolivia’s National Institute for Agricultural Innovation and Forestry, Rozanna Medina has over a decade of experience managing the country’s agricultural in-vitro culture. Medina stores the country’s entire collection of Bolivian crops, and has been a key contributor to the 20 innovations that have been adopted in her field, while supporting over 10,000 women subsistence farmers. In addition to her national recognition, her work has been recognized and supported by the World Bank, in their aim to increase the number of women scientific researchers and innovators around the world.

May we all be inspired by these women, and those around us, to act in our own quests to contribute to the betterment of society.

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After receiving her masters in the United Kingdom and traveling all around the world, she returned to her home country to build a bridge between farmers and consumers. Farmers all across Uganda struggle to find the resources necessary to build their capacity. “They can produce but what does that do if there aren’t opportunities to sell beyond their immediate community”, says Pamela.

Thank you, Mama

Pamela founded Asante Mama as a means to connect over 7,000 farmers throughout Uganda with a bigger market. “Asante Mama” means “Thank you Mama” in swahili, coined after farmers repeatedly thanked her for bringing so much hope into their lives. Asante Mama sells tea, spices and chocolates that come from over 20 different crops her farmers are working with.

With her recent partnership with Kuli Kuli, she has been able to expand production to working with moringa trees. Her majority female team of farmers have had to combat many obstacles but are learning and growing right alongside the newly planted moringa trees. Asante Mama works closely with their farmers and assists with their expansion via trainings and grants. Pamela said the biggest issues are lack of infrastructure, which prevents efficient transport of the leaves, men unwilling to give women access to land and lack of knowledge on hygiene regulations.

Despite all these problems that have kept others away from working with vulnerable female farmers, Pamela has persisted. She understands that when you are not economically independent, you feel down, your voice is suppressed and your views are not followed. “There is no better feeling than the ability to buy your own rice rather than waiting on a man to give you money. Education is important but economic liberation is fundamental.” says Pamela.
Pamela is a builder of Africa’s future and we are honored to be working with her to eradicate hunger and empower women around the globe.

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The conference hosted incredible African speakers, entrepreneurs and business leaders from a variety of industries, yet there was no denying that moringa was a common theme. Between the two award winners and three moringa companies present, the room was buzzing with moringa- quite literally, attendees were fueling themselves off Kuli Kuli’s Moringa Energy Bars and Moringa Green Energy Shots!

Moringa, Represent!

For the past four years, the African Diaspora Network has hosted an Investment Symposium (ADIS2019) that gathers over 750 entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and leaders in Silicon Valley to share successes and find new ways to strengthen the African diaspora’s role in shaping the continent. At this year’s event, Kuli Kuli was particularly excited for the announcement of two of our moringa suppliers gaining recognition for their impressive work developing social enterprises that are creating economic opportunities and supporting sustainable agroforestry in Uganda and Ghana.

We were bursting at the seams with pride and excitement as the African Diaspora Network recognized what we’ve been seeing for awhile in Pamela and Kwami – their ability to change the world! Fittingly, they were awarded as the Builders of Africa’s Future.

The event’s unique cross-section of passionate Africans, Diasporans, and friends of Africa, created powerful connections and a flow of ideas. It was an incredible opportunity to showcase the East and West African champions for moringa that have made Kuli Kuli’s supply chain so impactful.

Pamela Anyoti Peronaci, Asante Mama

Pamela was born in rural Uganda but through plenty of hard work, managed to obtain higher degrees in Europe. Even with her travels, she never forgot her roots. Upon finishing her studies she returned to Uganda because she saw an opportunity to act as a link between farmers and consumers around the world. She was on a mission to lift up her community, which is exactly what she has done through her company, Asanta Mama. Asante Mama employs over 11,000 farmers growing six different crops, including moringa.

Kwami Williams, MoringaConnect

Similar to Pamela, after his studies, Kwami become distraught by the huge disconnect between a land rich in opportunity but no money, and consumers in the western world. He learned about moringa in 2011 on a trip to Ghana with MITD-Lab. With his now co-founder, Emily, they witnessed Ghanaians battling malnutrition even though the moringa tree, the most nutrient dense tree in the world, was growing in their own backyards. With this passion, Kwami left his path to become a rocket scientist and started Moringa Connect instead. Moringa Connect has planted over two million trees, served 3,000 small farming families and increased farmer income by 10x.

*The award winners at the African Diaspora Investment Symposium held January 24-25, 2019 in Mountain View, California.

A Future of Moringa

Africa is a continent rich with languages, unique foods, music, and incredibly talented social entrepreneurs like Pamela and Kwami. Kuli Kuli applauds them both for their work developing successful companies, international supply chains and showing the world just how much Africa has to offer. Kuli Kuli is proud to harness it’s conscientious supply to enable entrepreneurs like Pamela and Kwami to grow their mission-driven businesses and farms to empower areas of the world that are susceptible to the harshest realities of malnourishment, poverty and the early effects of climate change. We envision a future where Africa is overflowing with opportunity, one moringa tree at a time.

To learn more about Kuli Kuli’s impact in Sub-Saharan Africa and around the globe, click here.

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