Tifie – Tifie

Tifie x Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic (DR) is home to beautiful beaches and is visited by tourists from all over the world. Past the pristine resorts and entertainment are the neighborhoods and cities that are home to over 10 million people. Education is mandatory and compulsive, however the national average for drop out is around 14, as reported in 2023.

When board member Rick Maingot first visited DR several years ago, he was introduced to a neighborhood in a poor area where children were at risk. At risk for dropping out of school to help their families, at risk for being orphaned, at risk for being trafficked – it was a harsh reality. With multiple humanitarian partners, he helped create the O’Faro Community Center. The purpose of the center is to provide a safe environment for children to learn and grow. They are mentored after school or provided lessons during the day. The kids especially love the music and computer programs offered at the school. The director Omar Diaz says that its not just a training center but its a way of life.

The neighborhood was noisy, with lots of fighting and unrest. The beauty and hope that the school has instilled into the children is having ripple effects into surrounding homes and streets – no more yelling and fighting and hope is alive.

Many students from Utah County have volunteered their summers in the Dominican Republic to help at the school and we have several that are excited to go back and are currently fundraising for the center. Caleb Johnston and Lance Meurs are biking across the USA this summer to raise funds for O’Faro. If you are someone you know is interested in volunteering this summer, watch this video and sign up for more info.

Tifie x Tandika Revitalization Foundation

Tifie is excited to offer a matching fund to the Tandika Revitalization Foundation through the fundraiser at Emerson Elementary. In past years, Emerson students and families sponsored 25 single mothers with loans to start their own businesses. All of these loans were paid back in full and their businesses are successful. This year, they are buying the land to build a community center for these women and their businesses.

The community center will be a hub for the women in the area, a hub for ideas, connection, community and mentorship. The Center has three primary functions for the women in the Mbiko community of Uganda.

- - - - A business co-op that will create opportunities for mentorship and hands-on training for starting a business
      - Business Loan fund provides women with no-interested loans for starting their business
      - Community Center that will be the hub for these women and their community. Future phases of the center include training opportunities for women who want to become trained in specific business skills. The center will also become a source for income-generating activities for center that includes raising livestock, recycling, and milk production.

We’re excited help these women through this partnership with Josh Craner and his team at Tandika Revitalization Foundation. Fundraising link is hosted here.

Tifie Humanitarian supports projects that help provide basic needs so that people can lift themselves out of poverty. We focus on basic needs of safe shelter, clean water and food, power, education and health access through sustainable methods that lead to job creation and financial independence. All donations to Tifie are tax deductible and 100% of donations go directly to projects thanks to our endowment fund.

Origins Story – Where Did Tifie Come From

We worked with the Barebones team to help tell the history of Tifie in the Congo, and hopefully answer the questions of why do we do what we do. In helping answer some of these questions, I was (not surprisingly) emotional and grateful to see photos of our 15-year history, think about the great people who support our projects and partners around the world, and also proud of us for pivoting.

It takes courage to change. Tifie’s WHY has stayed the same – helping lift people lift themselves out of poverty – but our HOW changed. Moving from running programs in the Congo to sending products and funds to local partners who know their culture and needs has been our new mode of operations.

Check out the full story over at Barebones blog.

Where does my donation go?

Wondering where your donations are going when you donate to Tifie? Here’s where we assigned donations this month.

One time $100 Donation (Education)
This donor was interested in helping students in our programs, so we assigned it specifically to the girls home in Cost Rica that we support. Girls who are rescued out of tracking recover and relearn how to be children in this safe home. They receive an education, life skills and therapy. Many girls who were graduating from school didn’t have the money to pay for the school fees. This donation was almost the exact amount of the fees, and came at the perfect time to help them in their next steps in their future.

$10/month (Education – Roots)
This regular donation goes to Roots Charter High to the “Next Steps Fund” we’ve setup with them. This pays for anything that the students need to pursue their next steps in education or career. The fund has paid for concurrent enrollment fees at the local Community College, closed toe shoes for new jobs, and food handler’s permits.

One Time $250 (Where Need is Most)
We have several kids who attend our after-school center in Dominican Republic who don’t have birth certificates. We have an attorney translate their birth certificates from Haitian Creole to Spanish, then the kids can get into public school. Without it – they can’t go to school. The cost is around $65 each. We’ll apply these donations to several of these students.

$5000 Scholarship (Education/Shelter)
We recently had a local SLC company who wanted to support our initiatives in high schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In past years, they have donated scholarship to seniors to help pay for their first year of college. We found out that these students were spending over 4 hours a day driving to and from their families home to get to college, and were struggling in their studies because of it. (And if any of you have driven in Kinshasa, you know that it’s not for the faint of heart, and certainly not a situation where reading or writing can be done while driving). We were able to secure housing and food for students near campus with this generous donation.

If you are interested in supporting any of our initiatives, please donate online and choose the project you are most interested in. Or you can always choose “Where Need is Most” and we’ll put it toward a pressing need.

youth using donated laptops

Tifie donates Shelters to Bahamas

Tifie support projects that help marginalized people with basic needs: Shelter, Power, Food, Water, Education, and Jobs. These are the building blocks to being self-sufficient. Tifie doesn’t run projects ourselves; instead, we partner with local organizations and people who know the needs, priorities, people, culture, and have a strategic plan for how to move forward. Tifie and Barebones traveled to Bahamas to set up shelters for Hurricane Dorian survivors. We are so thankful for the work that Open World Relief is doing and that we could help give people dignified living spaces.

Survivors who have been sheltering in a church after losing their homes in Hurricane Dorian stand with Erik Workman of Tifie and OpenWorld Relief volunteers, who helped them assemble their new temproary Barebones shelters. Abaco, The Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian Relief 2019. OpenWorld Relief/Laura M. Hamel

Unfortunately for those living in the islands devastated by Dorian, their newly unfolding reality has disappeared from the news cycle, as new natural disasters and political upheavals have taken over. However, the need is great long after the initial shock of the first few days and weeks pass by.

By luck/blessing/happenstance/divine inspiration, we were connected to Maggie Whitcomb and her network, which included, so randomly (or not so randomly?) two people who we had worked with in Puerto Rico three years ago, one who had set up Barebones shelters. With a generous donation from Barebone’s logistics company, Mainfreight, a shipment of Barebones shelters, Discobed bunk beds and bedding were shipped and arrived by donated charter plane in Abaco..

OpenWorld Relief volunteers help survivors build sleeping cots and temporary Barebones shelters donated by Tifie. Abaco, The Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian Relief 2019. OpenWorld Relief/Laura M. Hamel

Erik Workman was part of the initial Barebones product development team, and has helped set up Barebones shelters in Fiji after Cyclone Winston. He said he was in need of “an adventure”, and was available to fly out with little notice. He arrived in Abaco with a Delta pilot who volunteers on his off days to do humanitarian flights. The team from Open World Relief were working hard to prepare the shelter sites and construction plan. Erik reminded them that he was a strong back and hard worker, and ready to tackle whatever they needed that day. He wasn’t just there to set up shelters on behalf of Tifie and Barebones, and certainly didn’t need a ‘horse and pony show” that is common when donors are involved in humanitarian work. It seemed like there was a collective sigh, and he was put to work distributing clean water solutions around the island that day instead. Back home in Utah, hearing Erik recount this, made me so thankful, and proud, that we are truly in this together with our partners, and try to serve their needs first, acknowledging that they are the experts and know what needs to be done.

A survior whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Dorian builds a platform for a Barebones shelter, with some help from OpenWorld Relief volunteers. Abaco, The Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian Relief 2019. OpenWorld Relief/Laura M. Hamel

OpenWorld Relief volunteers help survivors erect Barebones shelters donated by Tifie. Abaco, The Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian Relief 2019. OpenWorld Relief/Laura M. Hamel

Sharing the Bread: Our Roots Thanksgiving Luncheon

We love our friends over at Roots Charter High School. We headed over to their West Valley campus to serve up our THIRD ANNUAL Thanksgiving Dinner with them last week.

Cuisine Unlimited provided a gorgeous feast, several local Kneader donated pies, and Barebones and Goal Zero employees donated their lunchtime to prepare and serve the students. High school eating areas are typically abuzz with conversation and excitement, but this felt especially anticipatory.

The students were eager to eat and help and seemed really appreciative. We left the day with full bellies of delicious food, fun conversation with people who care about them, and an emotional speech from Robert about all of us taking care of one another.
We originally connected to Roots because of a chance meeting with Tyler Bastian, the director and Founder. His passion for providing students with the opportunity of learning in a farm and garden environment resonated with Robert and Tifie Ranch: the responsibility of caring for plants and animals, the opportunity to do math and science activities in a real-world lab, and the simple joy of digging in the dirt.

One teacher wrote us the next day that a new student told her that out of all the schools he has been too (and this student has been to a lot!) he had never seen something done for students as amazing as that luncheon was. She also said

We had several students who normally have a “tough guy persona”, who honestly were in awe of the generosity of you all. I cannot tell you how touching it was for me to see their whole being just soften for the rest of the day. Carrying around their little boxes of food, and plates of cookies like they had just won the lottery. I saw actual smiles of joy on their faces.

From my favorite Thanksgiving book, “Sharing the Bread”.

We will share the risen bread.
Our made-with-love Thanksgiving spread.
Grateful to be warm and fed.
We will share the bread.

We are thankful to share our abundance with our Roots Family, and wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, with friends, family and food that warm your hearts and souls.

Happy Thanksgiving all.
Halen and Team

Join Us: Michael Pollan in Salt Lake City

Thursday, June 29th
6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Red Butte Gardens
300 South Wakara Way
Salt Lake City, Ut 84108

Join Michael Pollan, AWARD-WINNING ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALIST and New York Times bestselling author, for a lecture and private reception at the Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City on Thursday, June 29th, from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. After the lecture, there will be a book signing followed by local bites, cocktails, and the music of Pixie and the Partygrass Boys.

Pollan’s work surrounds the philosophy that there is an inherent CONNECTEDNESS IN THE NATURAL WORLD. He believes that when we take time to pause and value that relationship, we make POSITIVE, CONSCIOUS CHOICES in how we treat the environment and our bodies, which will have a dramatic impact on our physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.

All proceeds from this event will benefit the great work that the International Rescue Committee is doing with local refugees to help them cope with their new situations through the HEALING POWER OF NATURE. Once they have relocated to the United States, refugees – especially women—can feel very vulnerable and are often faced with trauma, mental distress, and anxiety. They worry about how their children will adjust to their new city, if their neighbors will accept them, and how they will be able to provide a safe, HEALTHY LIVING FOR THEIR FAMILY. The International Rescue Committee not only helps resettle refugees physically in Salt Lake City, but emotionally as well through their refugee gardening program, New Roots. At this program, refugees are taught GARDENING AND FARMING SKILLS to gain financial independence, and are also given the opportunity to form friendships and discuss some of the mental trauma and other issues that they are facing here

Buy Tickets Here (100% of ticket sales will be donated to IRC, thanks to our sponsors!)

Internship in Peru this summer!

Tifie is looking for two amazing individuals to go to Peru to work with our Greenhouse Project. One is focused on Greenhouse Best-Practices and the other is focused on Sales and Marketing for the local vendors. Spanish speaking would be helpful, but not necessary. Internship is on-site in Peru for 6-8 weeks and will be working closely with our project manager, Jaime Figuerero, a BYU graduate who has over 20 years experience in humanitarian projects.

More detailed job descriptions below. Please contact [email protected] for more info.

TIFIE PERU INTERNSHIP

INTERNSHIP #1 Crop Distribution/Market Analysis

INTERNSHIP #2 Sales/Marketing

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Time: Spring/Summer 2017 between June and Nov

Duration: 4 to 8 weeks. Negotiable.

Location: Sacred Valley, Cuzco area, Peru

Transportation: Local, by motorcycle or car

Airfare: Intern is responsible for airfare to/from Cusco

Lodging: Provided by Tifie in the city of Cuzco

Payment: Unpaid, but trip to Machu Picchu is provided

Location Background: The Chinchero, Anta, Oropesa & Sacred Valley are located in Peru near Cuzco and Machu Picchu The Cuzco area is an active tourist center with hotels, restaurants and great affluence of people from all over the world. Except for corn and potatoes, 80% of all produce is imported from other parts of Peru, creating an opportunity for organic produce to be delivered to Cuzco from the Chinchero areas. Tifie’s Greenhouse projects aims to provide local farms the opportunity to meet the need for organic and local produce, while benefiting and increasing local farmer income.

Tifie’s Project Intention:

Many humanitarian organizations have built greenhouses in the villages to aid these villages and Tifie Humanitarian is revitalizing these greenhouses by making them more productive through various methods such as venting, re-positioning, crop rotation, fertilization, and organizing commercial farming. The Tifie Humanitarian Peru Project is managed by Jaime Figueroa who has 28 years experience humanitarian service and received his MPA at BYU.

Requirements:

Spanish preferred, but not required
Willing to knock doors and talk to restaurant
Ability to lift up to 30 pounds

Sales/Marketing Internship Description:

Intern will study Cuzco restaurant market to determine which vegetables are in the highest demand, and make recommendations based on need
Identify sales pricing on produce
Based on a SWOT analysis, make distribution (delivery) plan and make recommendation of the most efficient and profitable delivery model
Identify available greenhouse and farmers that can produce and become part of the Tifie Greenhouse Co-Op
Help Jaime to create and update documents in Google Drive
Develop a system where Jaime could send more pictures to USA & develop easy collaborative tracking and documentation.

At the end of this internship, Tifie would like the following:

Recommendation of produce that local restaurants want and the cost that the restuarnts will pay
Sales Leads of Restaurants who will purchase from Tifie Greenhouse
Distribution Plan from Chinchero to Cusco with Budget

GREENHOUSE INTERN DESCRIPTION

Crop and Natural Fertilization Analysis/Greenhouse Production/Hydroponic Production Systems

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Agriculture Major

Analyze greenhouse crops to determine best crops to plant based on production demand, environment, elevation etc
Work with Sales/Marketing Intern to determine crops that are in demand in the city and markets, and what varieties are the best
Become our Biol Expert by monitoring natural fertilizer composition (biol) and application to determine most effective composition to produce highest yields. Also monitor hydroponic using minerals solve in the water vs. biol. Apply basic hydroponics in 10 elementary schools.
Become our Greenhouse Expert by working with Jaime, document the best practices for high yield and sustainable greenhouse. Also document how local farmers can modify existing greenhouses to increase yieldAt the end of the internship, Tifie would like the following:
Crop Recommendations for the area

Biol “Quick Fact” Guide and Instruction Guide for others to create Biol
Greenhouse Best Practices in Chinchero Area

For additional questions about the internship, please contact Ron Zarbock, Tifie Chairman of the Board at [email protected] or 801-831-9303

Tifie exists to support projects that help marginalized people provide for their own basic needs through sustainable access to food and water, shelter, power and education.

Rani’s Story: Bringing Life After the Earthquake

Rani holds a baby she delivered in front of a Bare Bones tent.

Rani is a Skilled Birth Attendant from the Salbaas birthing center who had provided birthing services in Chainpur, Salbaas. During the earthquakes, all of the proper supplies and equipment were buried so Rani did the best she could,conducting deliveries without even the most basic equipment. When the One Heart World-Wide team arrived with BareBones tents, they installed the tent and supplies in a location she agreed to, and not a moment too soon. That very night, the new birthing tent welcomed the first of many babies into the world.

A group of locals approached the tent assuming that we were health workers. Among them was a pregnant woman experiencing labor pains. She was immediately brought into the tent and examined by Rani, who was able to help this mother conduct a normal delivery with the help of the light from the solar equipment and supplies in the tent.
Rani and this mother’s experience have been echoed throughout both Dhading and Sindhupalchok districts, along with many additional locations that have experienced severe damage and are still reeling from the earthquakes. The tents that the One Heart World-Wide team has been installing, while not permanent, provide a space for safe deliveries while the long-term renovation plans are being finalized.

We continue to get emotional every time we receive updates from One Heart World-Wide, sharing stories of the impact of our tents in Nepal, and the tenderness and fierceness that these SBA attendants and mothers live by. As of December, there have been 424 babies born in these tents, thanks to many of you and our partners.

Giving Tuesday Roundup Utah

Why is the holiday season such a fun time? It’s a time to think of others. Nothing is more fun than finding the perfect gifts for your loved ones. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday have passed. Giving Tuesday is a special event that should become part of your yearly traditions.

We’ve compiled a short list of projects and individuals whom you can help this #GivingTuesday ranging in projects like female artisans, small business owners, education, clean water, refugee resettlement or power for families.

Amaa Dress Purchase a hand-made dress created by a seamstress in Ghana. These are designed exactly with your measurements in mind. Your purchase employs female entrepreneurs in Utah and Ghana, starting at $40. Amaa dress is the brainchild of passionate humanitarian Crys Kevan Lee, who also is the director of Empower Playgrounds. Check them out at Amaadress.squarespace.com

Education Scholarship: Sponsor a student at a school in Kinshasa DRC with Tifie. Students in Congo have to pay to go to school, and are kicked off if they haven’t paid their fees. These students want to go to school so badly they will get up every day, get dressed and hide in the back of the classroom until they get kicked out for not paying. Such determination, and we can help keep them in school for just $10/month.

Musana Jewelry Support women artisans in Uganda by purchasing gorgeous jewelry from Musana International. Artisans are mothers who because of employment with Musana, can provide for their families with fair wages, receive subsidized medical insurance, matching education funds for their children, and on top of it, they participate in give-back programs in their own communities. Co-Founder Melissa Sevy was recently featured in Beehive Startups in a great article that highlights the strength and beauty of Ugandan women: read the article “Jewelry, Empowerment, And Ugandan Women: The story of Musana here!

Sponsor a well in Liberia for $3000 with Africa Heartwood Project.

Help Refugees in Utah by: mentoring, collecting household items, providing work experience or donating time and skills, For information, check out their website here.

Open Pantry at Roots High School. No student should be hungry and Bare Bones Living is collecting food and supplies for their students. Students at Roots typically arrive in the morning hungry and unfortunately, many don’t have the means for lunch. Pick up a packet of oatmeal, ramen or nuts the next time you’re at Costco and drop them by any Spherion staffing or our Tifie/Barebones office!

Give Power. Share Light. Partner with us to give to individuals and families solar power and light for their homes. Tifie has been working with Kushea region of Ghana for the last year, providing products and resources that create the building blocks of independence and self-suffiency. A donation today can give a family the gift of power and light. Power = family, education, opportunity, health, connection… the impact is endless! For more info and to donate, click here.

Author: Tifie