Khaya Cookies: Cookies with a Conscience

Hello from Cape Town!

I know it's been awhile since the last update-things have been crazy! I'm back in South Africa right now, but have been trekking around the states for various lectures and events (will update re: this later).

I do want to send out a tremendous THANK YOU to everyone for all of your love + support and messages in these crazy times. And, of course, for joining the Khaya Cookie Company Facebook group (for those who have facebook). As you know, our mission is to create jobs, train (previously unemployed) staff and offer a fulfilling work environment – these are what we believe are the critical ingredients for a wholesome, self-sustaining life. We're doing what we can to create jobs, one cookie at a time.

And you can help! Join this group, invite your friends, and help spread the good word. As an enkosi for EVERYTHING, feel free to use the discount code BUD to take 20% off of your next order.
 
Cheers + will write more about the craziness that is Capetown.
xo, Alicia

“Lights, camera...Khaya !”

Picture an action sequence in a movie. Can you imagine the dramatically slowed down scene as the cameras zoom in to show each individually bristled hair and sweaty pore of the actors? Unfortunately, my life didn’t come with any freeze frame affects leading up to Khaya’s day to shine on CNN. It was in fact - fast, furious, and wonderful. The fast and furious portion stemmed from lifting heavy cardboard boxes packed with the contents of my life, the week leading up to the CNN shoot. Oh and to top off my adrenaline rush – I received a phone call from the Producer/Copy Editor of CNN wanting to run their segment called “Small & Global” on the Khaya Cookie Company! CNN and Khaya

 

“…and CUT!”

 

Phew…It wasn’t easy getting to a point where I felt proud of the things Khaya had done. It wasn’t easy convincing people that building a business from an “inside out” model of “hand-ups,” not “hand-outs” would actually work. It wasn’t easy selling the idea of creating jobs, let alone doing it through cookies. It just wasn’t easy - and this is the kind of stuff that lots of movies tend to cut out. I actually believe “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy did it best when they devoted a whole movie to the Hobbits going through Mordor and then spending another hour at the summit of Mount Doom debating. (Did I really just make a reference to LOTR?)

 

That’s pretty true to the challenges of doing what you feel is right, which in my situation, was creating jobs. It’s an uphill battle, with an even longer debate at the top. Luckily, I had the support of many people. Actually I continue to have the support of those people and still need the support of many more people. It was truly Khaya’s hard work that got CNN there. I was happy to share Khaya’s personal and professional challenges of providing opportunities for its workers. The level of quality goods Khaya produces only generates pride for the hands and hearts behind the product in both the United States and South Africa. Of course, CNN would be the first to investigate. To watch their full investigation and see me the back of a loading truck click here: CNN and Khaya

 

“and enter in Shadley Lombard…”

 

What a great videographer from CNN, Cape Town. I often find that they’re the best story tellers because their visions are on the pulse of what’s going around you. Shadley is a true CapeTonian story teller and this time, he was going to record Khaya’s story in South Africa. It was only a pleasure seeing Khaya through his fresh lenses. It was when Shadley had the chance to visit Maxwell and Monica (two Khaya employees) inside their homes that I was reminded, once again, that Khaya is real. We really do have an impact. We really do help. We really do create jobs, stability and pride. And we really do that by making these cookies…

 

Shadley was able to document the cookies from their early morning in the South African townships, through their careful creation and packaging process, and to their final journey for the states. Now you can see and taste how these cookies have raised the business bar. Khaya’s flavor, ingredients, and care will always tell the story, and now CNN does, too. To watch Shadley’s complete videography work on Khaya go to: Shadley and CNN on Khaya

 

“where are they now?”

I’m back in New York sharing the long trek these cookies have made. I am looking forward to sharing even more of the individual stories of the Khaya workers on my blog in the future. It truly is an amazing thing to see where there were, where they are now, and where they will be because of Khaya. A big “ENKOSI” to all of the amazing CNN staff and support for giving everyone a chance to be welcomed into our Khaya.

 

Khaya Karma

I’ve done Bikram yoga a couple of times enough to say “I’ve felt the heat” and not enough to call myself a “yogi.” What I did learn from Yoga class, however, is the magic of removing yourself from the bustling noises of the city into a room powered on breathing. After sweating profusely for over an hour, I can attribute my sense of feeling “lighter” to my lost water weight, or maybe, just maybe – on learning how to breathe.

I’ve spent this past couple of weeks in South Africa. I was fortunate enough to be accompanied with a very special CNN reporting videographer Shadley Lombard and professional photographer Brent Taylor. (I promise I'll get into that later).They wanted to see what the chatter was all about regarding "Cookies with a Conscience." Not only did I show them the entire cookie making process from scratch, but they also had the chance to see the positive karma the company had on its employees.

   

I transported myself from the hectic airport at JFK and twenty one grueling hours later, I found myself surrounded by mountains. Through the course of my trip, I finally caught my breath and took this opportunity to show the softer side of the Khaya Cookie krunchi. The women who gain their financial independence through our opportunities literally opened their doors to CNN. That’s when the Khaya Karma came flooding in.

 

 

I was able to re-energize and return to New York fully loaded. It’s not about how fast you can out order your barista or how quickly you glide through the sidewalks. When you see the softer side of life and when you stop to breathe - you can actually feel how your actions positively affect someone else’s life even from so far away.

You can share some of this good Khaya Karma with the people that surround your life.

 

 

Remember my pictures I’ve shared, simply pick up a box of our cookies, and spread some of our Khaya Karma. I promise it’ll come back to you.