Chocolate to champion change
About 70% of cocoa worldwide is grown in West Africa, primarily Ghana and Ivory Coast. At ZORA, we source cocoa responsibly, by supporting transparent trade practices and by addressing farming community needs to enable sustainable opportunities for their futures, bridging the gap between farmers and consumers.
We source our beans from a USDA organic, fairtrade farmer cooperative in Suhum, Ghana called ABOCFA. With over 900 farmers, ABOCFA produces a rich and wonderfully sweet flavor profile. They are democratically run, and every farmer gets a say in how the co-op’s funds are spent.
We are proud to partner with ABOCFA, Uncommon Cacao and 5150 Chocolate to ensure that we can trace the journey of every bean and share it with you in the form of delicious chocolate.
While some wonderful initiatives currently exist to improve the live of farmers and their families, the reality is that many girls and young women still lack access to basic education.
Education is one of the most effective ways of raising living standards because girls are four times more likely to be out of school than boys from the same background, so we felt compelled to do what we could do to help.
To that end, we are partnering up with the Tarkwa Breman Girl’s School (TBGS), operated by Cocoa360, a non-profit organization, pioneering a self-sustaining model of rural development with both a community school (TBGS) and a clinic.
Every time you buy a ZORA chocolate bar, a portion of the purchase price funds one school day for a girl in rural Ghana.
Research has shown that when we invest in girls’ education, we foster economic growth, contribute to healthier families, and take another step towards gender equality.
Cocoa360’s Tarkwa Beman Girls School serves 8 communities including 167 students enrolled in 6 grade levels.
- 240 students enrolled
- 98% attendance rate vs. government’s sub-70% in rural communities.
- Significantly reduced the girls school-going age from 8 years to 3 years.
Vivian Kwadu, Esther Kwaw, and Jackeline Dauda