From Grass to Glory: How Bolga Baskets are Transforming Lives in Ghana

The story behind ASON International's Bolga baskets is the truest manifestation of how a small thing can make a huge impact over the decades. One of ASON's core values is our desire to make every one of our ministries self-sustainable over the years, so we can know for sure that the people in the field will thrive long-term without our support. ASON's supporters are also comforted by the knowledge that their investment into the future of people in South Asia, Ghana, and the Dominican Republic does not depend on ongoing western support.

Bolga Baskets are a unique local craft of the Bolgatanga Region of Ghana, made possible by the unique tensile strength and texture of the grass local to that area. Every weaver puts their heart into this craft, creating unique pieces of art that will never be repeated exactly the same way again. We saw the potential to market these baskets in the US and find a way to support the people of this ministry long-term. We set the average price of the baskets around $55, which is over three times the fair trade value. We knew that we could do this because we are cutting out several intermediaries who ordinarily would also take a margin on these baskets, and by selling them directly, we could provide a great product at a fair price.

Every time we buy a basket, we ensure that the weavers are paid in cash directly in front of our eyes, ensuring that they benefit from this transaction. At these prices, one basket on average will provide the financial resources to feed the weaver's family for a month. One of our first weavers in the group has managed to put her daughter through nursing school solely from the proceeds of selling her baskets to ASON. The stories are real, and the people benefiting from this simple transaction are real.

Now let's do the math behind this impact over the last 13 years. We have bought 2,063 baskets in this fashion. Each basket brought an average revenue of around $55 to the weaver. Over the years, the weaving group has grown to over 85 weavers, up from just around a dozen initially. Between all those weavers, that is 2,063 baskets times $55, which amounts to an impressive $113,465.

To put this into perspective, every basket sold provides a month's worth of sustenance for a family. This means that through this initiative, we have collectively ensured 2,063 months, or about 172 years, of food security for these families. Dividing this by the average number of 50 weavers over the years, it translates to around three years of food provided to these families simply because of selling these baskets.

In our desire to scale up the sale of these baskets, we are announcing an exciting new initiative. We plan to ship the baskets directly from Ghana to mission teams at our partner churches. These teams will then sell the baskets locally at churches, conferences, and markets. By expanding our reach in this way, we hope to continue making a significant difference in the lives of the weavers and their families, ensuring that their artistry continues to provide not just beautiful baskets, but a sustainable future.

For this purpose, we have set up a website that shows the procurement process, as well as the process involved in getting the baskets ready for sale once they arrive from Ghana. We believe this meaningful labor of love is a great team-building activity for local mission teams, and the baskets are so popular that they are easy to sell at various venues. Please have a look at the website, check out the process, and place your first order to help us scale up this effort and make an even bigger difference in Ghana.