Molasses
The concept of my idea is to improve the health of pregnant women and children by eating sweets who are healthy for them. How can we do that? By making "Molasses Cookies".
About You
Section 1: About You
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
Organization Website
Organization Phone
Organization Address
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Organization Country
Your idea
Name Your Project
Molasses
Country your work focuses on
Describe Your Idea
The concept of my idea is to improve the health of pregnant women and children by eating sweets who are healthy for them. How can we do that? By making "Molasses Cookies".
Website URL
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
y idea is unique because Molassses Cookies are not popular in Africa yet and almost nobody makes them although it's easy to make them and their benefits are very important for those two groups: pregnant womem and children.It is actually good for the health: it is a good source of iron ( good for pregnant womem as their need for iron will increase and growing children also need iron ), it is a good source of calcium ( needed to form and maintain strong bones during childhood ) and it ia also a good source of Manganese ( it helps protect the body from free radicals )
Do you have a patent for this idea?
No
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
When my ant started selling those cookies in Angola by my advice she was doing really good and the kids really loved it. Sometimes she gave it for free to pregnant women and those womem felt better during the pregnancy.
Problem
Molasses comes from sugar cane, it is a whole process to obtain molasses and the production of it is non-existent in Angola. A country that is just now restarting with the production of sugar canes.
Actions
Finding people who want to invest to produce enough molasses so we can be able to make those cookies.
Results
In angola women die giving birth more than anything, one of the causes is also malnutrition during pregnancy. Malnutrition among children in Angola is well known and my goal is to reduce it.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
Be able to poduce molasses in angola, be popular enough so that the cookies can be sold in different stores. Make the children and pregnant women understand that this is to improve their health and it tastes good too.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
Not being able to produce molasses in Angola.
How many people will your project serve annually?
Fewer than 100
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
$50 - 100
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Yes
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Operating for less than a year
In what country?
Angola
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
No
If yes, provide organization name.
How long has this organization been operating?
Less than a year
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
No
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
No
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
No
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
No
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
With these partnerships maybe I will be able to actually start producing molasses in Angola which will also create automatically more jobs for people in Angola.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
- Having machines to make cookies
- Producing molasses by processing sugar canes
- Have stores where we can sell them
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
When I went this summer in Angola and saw how children and pregnant women ate so many unhealthy
foods if they had something to eat. Also many children are too small and didn't develop well because of malnutrition.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
I am a Nurse and I'm pretty aware of the impact of healthy food for our health.
When I saw the recepy of molasses cookies I thought that it could be a great idea to help children and pregnant women in my country.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Web Search (e.g., Google or Yahoo)
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
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Comments
Hi Maria,
This is an interesting idea. Can you talk a little more about how the cookies would be baked and distributed? For example, are you thinking that local bakers will be in charge of making and selling the cookies? Where will they get the money and ingredients? Or will the cookies be donated by NGOs or government agencies?
Also, there are many other types of iron and calcium supplements - why do you think distribution through molasses cookies is better than other methods? I think this will help show more about why your idea is unique.
Good luck,
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
Thank you and sorry it took me so long to reply. To start the cookies would be baked by local bakers and they will also sell them because we won't have enough money at the beginning so we will have to start as small as we can. Only after having and see some gain from it we will starting thinking bigger such as distribution. Most things in my country are sold by the local people and it is the best way to win the trust of others and make them taste the cookies.I will invest and give the money for the ingredients at first which is why we will start small and local to begin with. As things will grow than we will try to have some investors. No the cookies won't be donated by NGO's or government agencies, why? Well because as I want to improve the nutrition I also want to give them jobs which will help a lot against poverty and to do this in the proper way they have to work hard and expect a salary in return.
I don't think distribution trough molasses cookies is better than other methods, first of all because there are better methods than this one. But I choose this because it is the best method for kids in Africa. Why? First of all they are unaware of it, they won't feel obliged and it won't taste bad. For example if they have to eat cornflakes to increase their calcium and iron well where will they get it in the first place? It is too expensive for them ( especially if they have to buy it constantly ) which is why I opted for a cheap cookie that any kid can by at a local baker.
I also just wanted to add that when I'm talking about molasses, I am talking about blackstrap molasses just to be clear and not only they are rich in iron and calcium but also in vitamins B and minerals which are very important for children and pregnant women. It is also said that a high supply of iron in the system will keep mosquitoes from biting. Why? Because they don't like human blood that is rich in iron. So if this is truly effective "blackstrap molasses cookies" will be very helpful in many countries in Africa.
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