Olowo-n'djo Tchala

Olowo-n'djo Tchala gathered shea nuts as a boy to pay for clothes and school. He arrived in the U.S. in 1998 speaking not a word of English. Five years later he had degree in organizational theory -- the study of capitalism, helping him understand the root causes of poverty. Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care was born – pumping money and resources into the tiny West African nation of Togo, furnishing schools, planting trees and reducing the maternal death.

This summer, Alaffia delivered bicycles to hundreds of kids in remote areas so they could attend school, often up to 10 miles each way.   Alaffia is a social movement, working to end the entrenched poverty. Alaffia's shea-butter cooperative provides good-paying jobs and medical care to over 80 workers, who are encouraged to preserve their traditional culture.