Pioneers Cocoa Factory Project
Supply Life-Sustaining Resources
$100,000.00
Sula people on a remote island Indonesia
BACKGROUND
The Sula people are an unreached people group (UPG) who live on a remote island in Indonesia that is only accessible by a 15-hour boat ride from the nearest Indonesian airport. Basics like clean water, electricity, health services, and education are limited. And the Sula has the second-highest poverty rate in their region of Indonesia.
STORY
Today, you are meeting the needs of the Sula in such a holistic way! The Bless Foundation is partnering with a Pioneers team on the island to run a chocolate business with cacao beans (used for chocolate) locally resourced. Our partnership is helping locals become artisan chocolatiers. As of now, the project has created jobs for 21 Indonesians. One woman, who is the assistant manager, is a single mom. Her husband abandoned her and their children. On the island, women receive half of what men get paid, which makes it difficult for women in her position. But our team pays men and women the same wages. The business has truly been life-changing for her.
The chocolate business also brought dignity to the community. Some of the best coffee and chocolate originates in Indonesia, yet it is all sold-off to foreign companies before the average Indonesian has the chance to enjoy it. So when our team brought back chocolate for the community, farmers got to taste it for the first time and could not believe it was so delicious! The governor on the island is also proud of the chocolate, and he takes it everywhere he goes, which has furthered the credible reputation the business has on the island.
RESULTS
Because of your generosity, the Pioneers Team is working to expand the business to employ 40 locals, purchase cacao from 60 farmers, produce about 1,500 chocolate bars per day, and provide chocolate to four international distributors. The Expansion is allowing more locals the opportunity to be financially self-sustainable, benefitting the entire Sula community.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Thank you Father for enabling the chocolate business to help your followers live here!
–Help us draw up goals together for Your work here.
–Protect Linda as she has recently experienced spiritual oppression relating to her extended family’s continued involvement with the occult.
–Protect us and our colleagues here against the enemy.
–Elias and Adelene to thrive here.
–For provision and guidance for the business.
–To enable us to form more relationships with neighbors as we host an event at the end of the month.
–that our new visa would be granted as we switch from a short-term to a longer-term visa.
–for healing for Jennie’s dad, Norm, as he was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.