Ablavi Anika-Lawson's passion for spices emerged out of her mother's kitchen and developed into a career in the production, processing and marketing of spices. She established the company Etablissement PHILAB and created a processing unit. Ablavi then transformed the company into a cooperative composed of four women spice processors, known as SCOOPS PHILAB. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Women Through Small Business

The project empowered 71 widowed women involved in spice production in Togo. These women were trained on hygiene and quality standards in agri-food processing and managerial organization in order to know how to process and market spices. Women involved in the production of ginger and turmeric learned to produce spices in larger quantities through trainings on capacity building techniques.

 

"These are innovations in my life and in the lives of the women in our cooperative. I will implement these techniques on my plot in this new season because it has provided me with the knowledge to have an income for me and my family." - Project Participant

 

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Ablavi participated in the IVLP Project Entrepreneurship and Youth Employment, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Office of International Visitors program branch in New York City, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia and Boulder Council for International Visitors.

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually

Boulder, CO; Washington DC; New York City, NY; Philadelphia, PA

Country: Togo

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