"It has white flowers, can grow a lot and become a real tree, and is good from head to toe!" the missionary reports. Of moringa, nothing is actually thrown away, and this semi-industrial project involves "harvesting and drying the leaves in a simple but time-consuming process."
Then, factory-like, the dried leaves are processed, and passed inside a sophisticated machine, into black tea, complete with sachets and final packaging, or into "moringa powder," a super-protein powder that acts as a food supplement and enriches soups.
Funding for the project, including the brand-new machinery to package the products, came three years ago from the German Cooperation and has since provided jobs for 30 poor families in the region, and improved the lives of many more people.
"Moringa plants grow very well in our area," assures the Salesian. "The powder is used for cooking, as if it were flour, and protein to boot! But we added the brand, that is, the signature of our Don Bosco!"
An example of moving beyond poverty, even in a country judged hopeless in the 1990s.
Extraordinarily rich in forests and natural beauty, such as the Gola Rainforest National Park in the Southeast, Sierra Leone is one of the most interesting states in West Africa. Yet it has a troubled history. "Outside of here we are known for three phenomena," Brother Richard confirms. "Diamonds, child soldiers, and Ebola, but it is clear that Sierra Leone is not just that."
"We Salesians work with young people, following the teachings of our founder," concludes Br. Racca. "What we do is to give them a chance to build a future, including a job, by teaching a trade thanks to the vocational schools. This is where the success of an entire African country like Sierra Leone starts, in addition to education."
