Maleku Indigenous Herb and Tea Business

First of all, we deeply appreciate your continued support through GlobalGiving. Your generosity is enabling the Maleku people of Costa Rica to take significant steps toward self-sustainability. Even the smallest contributions are making a meaningful impact as we build the foundation for this exciting venture.

Rosa, Maribel, and Adrian, our dedicated Maleku team, have been working tirelessly, planting and tending a test garden with more than four types of herbs. Historically, the Maleku community relied on foraging in the forest rather than structured farming. This shift has been a learning process, supported by advice from local farmers and university experts.

The fertile soil and abundant rainfall in the Maleku lands are ideal for agriculture, but the herb seedlings planted several months ago would struggle under direct sunlight. To address this, the team has proposed building a mesh sun shield to protect the seedlings and improve their growth.

Your donations received this quarter will go toward purchasing the necessary netting and wooden materials for this essential project.

We remain in the planning and evaluation phase, collaborating with interns and faculty advisors from the Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH). Their development study, delivered in August 2024, will further guide our efforts.

As the year ends, we hope you’ll consider a donation to empower these Maleku women to succeed in their journey toward creating a sustainable herbal tea business. Thank you for your continued support!