Poverty and slavery have the power to strip a person's dignity - the part of their inner being that knows they are valuable. They matter. They are not less.
When a person believes the lie that they are powerless and insignificant, the cycles of poverty and slavery will be allowed to continue. We are determined to break those chains. And it starts with each person having the self-respect and belief that they are capable and worth it.
Our business employs locals. Many locals. Each employee represents a family. If we are employing over 100 people and sourcing coconuts from 150 farmers at each plant, then we are affecting the lives of over 1,000 people in that community. In communities with high unemployment rates, that can transform everything.
There certainly are times and places for handouts. Handouts are not bad, but they can take away somethings from a person as they give something else. A handout provides temporary relief, but there is a bigger problem looming. A handout can create unhealthy dependency. A handout can take away a person's dignity. Giving someone a job says, "You are worth the time and effort to train and empower. You are capable. You can provide for your loved ones. You matter."
Handouts don't bring hope for the future.
We believe that people are more important than profits. We will produce the best products on the market using the best methods possible. We will sustain our business through profits. We will be profitable for the sake of the community - in order to stay there. To be out there. To support jobs. To break chains of poverty and slavery.
Our name is not a cute marketing tool. It's who we are. We bring jobs. We believe in people. We restore dignity.
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Kay Higginbotham
March 01, 2023
Hello dignitycoconuts.com owner, Thanks for the well-structured and well-presented post!