Mary Weime

Shea Producer, Damango


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Mary Weime with other CMA members.

Description: Mary Weime came to Damongo from Navrongo with her husband to farm in the late 1970s. Before coming to Damongo, Mary had not worker collecting Shea nuts. Her family now use this source of earnings to subsidize their income. Mary has given birth to seven children, two girls and five boys, two of her children died young. She is also a proud grand-mother of one young grand-daughter. Mary began working with the Damongo Christian Mother's Association, and their Shea butter initiative shortly after arriving in the Northern Region. Working with CMA and their partnership with Global Mamas, Mary has been able to earn a fair wage, above the national minimum. She hopes to use this improved and stable income to help pay for education for her younger children and grand-daughter so they may attend and complete school. Mary was unable to finish her schooling as a young girl, and left after third grade. With the combined efforts of the Damongo CMA, Naasakle, and Global Mamas to complete the process of achieving a Shea butter with Fairtrade and organic certification, we are working to provide a still higher 'living-wage' so women like Mary do not have to worry about education and well-being of their children.

Result: With the help of Global Mamas:
  • Mary hopes to be able to afford to send her children and granddaughter to school.
  • She plans to help support her daughter's young family.
  • She is able to earn a higher wage than the local average.
  • She will receive further training regarding health & safety, micro business practices, waste management, and Shea butter quality.

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