by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service
In an effort to secure fair wages and better living conditions
for cocoa farmers and their families in West Africa, Lutheran
World Relief (LWR) and SERRV International are offering fair-
trade chocolate through the LWR Chocolate Project. The project
features seven varieties of chocolate, including Divine Chocolate
Mini Eggs exclusively for Easter. Low cocoa prices have meant
severe poverty and even child slavery for many families in West
Africa, according to an LWR news release. LWR is the overseas
relief and development ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
"A bit of fair trade chocolate means a lot to farmers," according
to Kwabena Ohemeng-Tinyase, managing director of Kuapa KoKoo, a
cocoa cooperative in Ghana. Farmers participating in the
cooperative grow the cocoa used in Divine Chocolate. Fair trade
"opens the doors to development and gives children access to
health care, education and a decent standard of living," said
Ohemeng-Tinyase.
LINKS:
Lutheran World Relief
http://www.lwr.org
SERRV International
http://www.cob-net.org/serrv.htm
LWR Chocolate Project
http://www.lwr.org/chocolate
Kuapa KoKoo
http://www.kuapakokoogh.com
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
