Shea Butter Makers Fight for Livelihoods

Why Shea Butter Makers In Ghana Are Fighting For Their Livelihoods | Still Standing

By Amanda Waydzik

However, these women face many challenges, like deforestation and competition from big companies. The video shows how hard they work to collect shea nuts, make the butter, and protect their trees. It also tells us how organizations are helping them and why shea butter is so valuable to their community.

This video is about a group of women in Ghana who make shea butter, a special product used for skin care, food, and medicine. For centuries, women in West Africa have been making shea butter by hand, and it is very important for their families because it helps them earn money.

Shea Butter in West Africa

Match

Match the words with the definitions

• Shea nuts

• Butter

• Paste

• Income

• Sensation

The seeds of the shea tree, used to prod

A fatty substance made by churning cream

A thick, soft mixture made by crushing o

Money earned from work or business.

Something that causes great interest or

• The seeds of the shea tree, used to prod

• A fatty substance made by churning cream

• A thick, soft mixture made by crushing o

• Money earned from work or business.

• Something that causes great interest or

Match

Match the words with the definitions

• Taxing

• Kernel

• Rattle

• Fertilizer

• Machinery

Physically or mentally demanding.

The softer, inner part of a seed or nut.

To make a series of short, sharp sounds.

A substance added to soil to help plants

:Machines or mechanical devices.

• Physically or mentally demanding.

• The softer, inner part of a seed or nut.

• To make a series of short, sharp sounds.

• A substance added to soil to help plants

• :Machines or mechanical devices.

Match

Match the words with the definitions

• Livelihood

• Artisans

• Trek

• Lurking

• Ripe

A means of earning money to support one’

Skilled workers who make things by hand.

A long, difficult journey.

Waiting secretly to attack or avoid bein

Fully grown and ready to be eaten or use

• A means of earning money to support one’

• Skilled workers who make things by hand.

• A long, difficult journey.

• Waiting secretly to attack or avoid bein

• Fully grown and ready to be eaten or use

Match

Mtach the words to the definitions

• Fragrant

• Grind

• Grueling

• Consistency

• Unrefined

Having a pleasant smell.

To crush something into small pieces or

Extremely tiring or demanding.

The texture or thickness of a substance.

In its natural state, not processed or p

• Having a pleasant smell.

• To crush something into small pieces or

• Extremely tiring or demanding.

• The texture or thickness of a substance.

• In its natural state, not processed or p

Multiple Choice

What is shea butter often called in Northern Ghana?

• Women's silver

• Women's gold

• Women's treasure

• 1. Women's diamond

Multiple Choice

How long have people in Africa been using shea butter?

• 500 years

• 700 years

• 1,000 years

• 200 years

Multiple Choice

What is the biggest threat to shea butter production in Ghana?

• Lack of demand

• Deforestation

• Competition from other countries

• Poor quality nuts

Multiple Choice

Why do the women travel in groups to the forest?

• To carry more nuts

• To avoid armed robbers and snakes

• To make the journey faster

• To socialize

Multiple Choice

What happens to the bad shea nuts?

• They are thrown away

• They are used as fertilizer or to make food

• They are sold at a lower price

• They are burned

Multiple Choice

What does Porsche Assumedah’s organization provide to shea farmers?

• Money and land

• Cooking pots and training

• Machinery and tools

• 1. International buyers

Multiple Choice

How long does it take traditional shea butter makers to produce what a factory can make in three days?

• One week

• Two weeks

• One month

• Six months

Multiple Choice

What is one reason global demand for shea butter has increased?

• Its use in construction

• Its healing properties and vitamins

• Its low cost

• Its availability

Multiple Choice

How many shea trees has Porsche’s organization planted in the last two years?

• 5,000

• 7,000

• 10,000

• 15,000

Multiple Choice

What does shea butter symbolize for the women in Ghana?

• Poverty and struggle

• Prosperity and independence

• Tradition and culture

• Hard work and sacrifice

Dropdown

Women in West Africa have been turning shea nuts

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butter for centuries. The process is hard, requiring at least three women ​

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mix one pot. The yellow paste is often called "women's gold," and for many in Northern Ghana, it's the only source ​

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income. People across Africa have used it ​ ​

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skin and hair care, food, and medicine for at least 700 years. In recent decades, it's become a global sensation. International customers often buy larger quantities from companies ​

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can produce it faster, making it harder for traditional farmers.

Dropdown

The biggest threat is right in their backyard. For the past four decades, men have been cutting ​

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the very tree that provides livelihood to many families. Women in the town of Yanduri start their day with a two-hour trek ​

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the forest. The journey can be dangerous; they have to travel in groups to avoid armed robbers ​

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lurking in the forest. They also risk getting bitten by snakes when walking ​

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the grass. Only the ripe shea nuts that have fallen from the tree are ready. The return home can also be physically taxing, as the women carry more than 25 kilograms of seeds ​

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their heads.

Dropdown

After washing and drying the seeds for a week, the women crack the nuts. Only the good ones are made ​

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butter, while the bad nuts are used as fertilizer or to make a special food called kanwoo. This attention to detail sets traditional shea butter ​

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from commercially made ones. Porsche Assumedah, who leads an organization called Titiaka Boresa, provides training and cooking pots to shea farmers. She teaches them how to pick the best quality nuts and stick ​

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traditional methods, which date back to the 14th century.

Dropdown

Global demand for shea butter has increased dramatically due ​

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its healing properties and high levels of vitamins. However, deforestation, competition ​

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bigger companies, and the COVID-19 pandemic have threatened the livelihoods of small-scale producers. Around 8 million shea trees are cut down each year for charcoal production, reducing the availability of nuts. Despite these challenges, organizations like Porsche’s are planting thousands ​

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trees and helping women earn a higher profit. For these women, shea butter is a symbol of prosperity and independence, and they are determined to pass ​

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their knowledge to the younger generation.

Open Ended

1. Why is shea butter called "women's gold" in Northern Ghana?

Open Ended

1. What are some of the dangers the women face when collecting shea nuts?

Open Ended

1. How does the traditional process of making shea butter differ from the commercial process?

Open Ended

1. What role does Porsche Assumedah’s organization play in supporting shea farmers?

Open Ended

1. Why is deforestation a major problem for shea butter production?

Open Ended

1. How has the global demand for shea butter affected traditional producers?

Open Ended

1. What challenges did the shea butter industry face during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Open Ended

1. Why do some women prefer to stick to traditional methods of making shea butter?

Open Ended

1. What steps is Porsche’s organization taking to combat deforestation?

Open Ended

How does shea butter contribute to the independence of women in Ghana?