Celebrating Mothers: Felicia Solomon

Felicia Solomon is a mother of four who works with other women in the Oli community in Ghana's Upper West Region. She is part of a group of women whose work supports Baraka's traditional ingredient sourcing and helps sustain community livelihoods.

In this video, Felicia speaks about her life as a mother and how her work helps support her family and community. She shares how income from her work allows her to provide food, access healthcare, and keep her children in school. Her story reflects the broader impact of women working within the Baraka network.

Felicia Solomon is one of the women whose work makes Baraka shea butter possible. Baraka sources shea butter directly through the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Ghana's Upper West Region — a cooperative relationship maintained for over 15 years. Every batch is hand-processed using traditional water-based methods with zero chemical extraction, and complete chain-of-custody documentation is available for any order. The women who produce this ingredient receive a fair-trade premium directly, without intermediaries.

To better understand the ingredient at the centre of this story, explore Shea Butter – The Ultimate DIY Ingredient and How Handmade Shea Butter is Made. For parents and those expecting, see Shea Butter for Babies and Shea Butter During Pregnancy.

Learn more about how these ingredients are made and the cooperative behind them by reading Baraka's Social and Environmental Impact Report.

FAQ

Who is Felicia Solomon and what does she do?

Felicia Solomon is a mother of four who works with other women in the Oli community in Ghana's Upper West Region. She is involved in community-based work that supports Baraka's traditional ingredient sourcing. Her role contributes to both her family's income and the wider cooperative network. In the video, she shares her daily life as a mother and producer, and how the income she earns makes a real difference for her children.

Where does Felicia Solomon work and what cooperative is she part of?

Felicia works with women in the Oli community in Ghana's Upper West Region. This community is connected to the broader network supported by the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre. The cooperative structure allows women to work together and contribute to traditional ingredient production. This model supports consistent sourcing while maintaining local traditions and ensuring producers receive fair payment directly, without intermediaries cutting into their earnings.

What does Felicia say about working with Baraka?

Felicia shares that her work helps her support her children's education, food, and healthcare. She highlights how the income she earns makes a meaningful difference in her family's daily life. Her story reflects how participation in the Baraka cooperative network contributes to stability and opportunity for women in her community. The video shows the real-life impact of this long-standing cooperative relationship on individual families.

Who makes Baraka shea butter?

Baraka shea butter is made by women at the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Ghana's Upper West Region. These women are part of a long-standing cooperative that has been working with Baraka for over 15 years. They use traditional, water-based processing methods to produce shea butter without chemical extraction. Their work supports both their families and their local communities, and they receive a fair-trade premium directly with no intermediaries involved.

Is shea butter safe for babies and during pregnancy?

Yes, shea butter is commonly used on baby skin and during pregnancy. Baraka shea butter is pure and unrefined, produced without synthetic additives, fragrances, or chemical solvents at any stage of processing. It is hand-processed using traditional water-based methods, which means nothing is added and nothing artificial remains in the finished ingredient. As with any new skincare product, a patch test is recommended before first use. Those with high-risk pregnancies should consult a healthcare provider before introducing new topical ingredients.

About the Author
Wayne Dunn is the founder of Baraka Impact and a former Professor of Practice in Sustainability at McGill University. He holds an M.Sc. in Management from Stanford and has spent over 15 years working directly with the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Ghana's Upper West Region to source traditionally made shea butter and natural oils. He shares DIY skincare recipes and ingredient guides designed to be made at home with real ingredients — and sourced with full transparency about where they come from.