“A man can live about 40 days without food, about 3 days without water, about 8 minutes without air…..but only for 1 second without hope." - Hal Lindsay

Lospalos Coconut Oil is a socially conscious business that seeks to provide Timorese women an opportunity to empower themselves through employment. 

By producing oil in remote rural areas, Lospalos also creates a market for local subsistence farmers who formerly had no way of earning money from their coconuts.

OUR STORY

Lospalos’ co-founder Shannon French (below right) has been personally invested in Timor-Leste for nearly 20 years. As a former soldier in the Australian Army, he served in Timor-Leste in 2000 and 2012 and developed an emotional connection to the country and its people, returning to set up 'Wild Timor Coffee', a fair trade coffee business that supplies cafes in Melbourne, Australia.

Shannon’s military experience exposed him to less fortunate areas of the world and strongly influenced his interest in social justice causes. Through the Wild Timor cafes, Shannon has worked to promote Timorese food, culture and coffee and has successfully invested profits back into supporting community initiatives such as water projects, schools and a birthing centre.

Shannon is joined in the Lospalos Coconut Oil project by Steven Dean (below left), a former Australian Navy Clearance Diver, who served in Iraq in 2003. He continued to work in the region after discharging, assisting the Army Corp of Engineers with reconstruction projects and training Iraqi Special Police. In 2010 Steven relocated to Zimbabwe and joined the fight against wildlife poaching, helping establish the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF). It was during this time he began to understand the importance of grassroots community projects and providing economic initiatives in order to combat social issues.

Working together, we have personally invested in and built an organic coconut oil factory in the Lospalos District of Timor-Leste that produces cold-pressed, fresh oil directly at the source of the coconuts. We purchase coconuts from local subsistence farmers and employ villagers directly in the factory itself, creating a much-needed source of cash in this remote rural area. Our vision is a sustainable business that financially empowers the local community.

Steven is our operations manager, utilizing the patience he developed in Zimbabwe to make things happen on the ground in Timor, whilst Shannon continues to do what he does best...talking. If it's about big ideas, networking or marketing, Shannon gets things done. 

We may not look like much, but we both attack life with that Bear Grylls type 'can-do' attitude that eventually produces results. We're not quite as cheery as Bear (he's a little irritating isn't he?) but we do work well together and are blessed with a pig-headed determination that keeps us on track. Building on the groundwork we have already done and leaning on our existing Australian and Timorese networks, we are optimistic about the future of Lospalos Coconut Oil and are excited to get more people involved in the project.

OUR NEED

At the Lospalos factory we are currently employing 6 women who have impressed us with their eagerness, quick learning and discipline as they take ownership of their positions in their first ever paid jobs. Since the factory can use up to 600 coconuts a day, we are also providing farm gate opportunity for any community member who wants to harvest coconuts and make an income year round. We can see that coconut oil factory already has a significant and positive impact on these women beneficiaries who can ensure their children are fed, educated and enjoy better health. 

However, in order to have a lasting and meaningful impact, we need to keep the factory operating full time. Our current cash flow is insufficient and we are therefore appealing for funds that will allow us to pay some salaries up front, expand our production and export in large volumes to an international market. 

We already have interested customers who have tasted and loved the product samples. But we need your help to take our business to the next level and get our oil to Australia at a competitive and affordable price.  With further success the plan is to build more factories, thereby helping other remote communities where there may be plenty of coconuts but no market opportunities.

WHY WOMEN?

In today's world it may seem a bit of a cliche to have a business with a socially conscious focus on women at its core. And we're both blokey blokes, so why women, you ask?

In the developing world, it's just a fact that women have less access to jobs. For example in Timor-Leste, women in rural areas only generate about 1/4 of family income and nationally account for less than half of the work force. Women are far more likely to be contributing family workers (without pay), or self-employed rather than employees with a wage. There are many reasons for this, including cultural norms, access to education and domestic commitments on the homefront.

Conversely however, Timorese men will often turn their income over to their wives to manage household expenditures. As in many parts of the world there seems to be some credence in the idea that women in Timor-Leste generally make better use of limited finances, spending 80-90% of their income on productive uses and their families.

Since Lospalos Coconut Oil wants to benefit the community as a whole, we are eager to disrupt the norm and address the gender income disparity by providing paid employment to women. From our own experience, we have witnessed that women are not only hard working but are also adept at handling high levels of responsibility if given the chance. It is hoped that employment at these centres will therefore have a significant positive impact on women that improves the welfare of the whole family rather than just the income earner.

HOW IT WORKS

The initial investment for setting up the factory belongs to Lospalos, and although the factory is run and staffed by local Timorese, Lospalos continues to provide training, support and most importantly, access to buyers and markets outside the community, enabling the business to grow.

Our plan for expansion is to duplicate the Lospalos factory and provide interest-free loans to willing landowners across Timor so they can build their own coconut oil factories under our guidance and commence production. We will then guarantee a per litre purchase price for the oil upon delivery to Dili, providing them the advantage of a recognised brand and an existing sales network both within the country and overseas. 

CHALLENGES

We are creating a new export industry in one of the world's youngest and poorest countries, and have situated our business in a remote region of the country. Driving on a small dirt bike for 7 hours along potholed and dirt roads to the village is a test of mental endurance itself.

We have already overcome a number of obstacles in getting the Lospalos factory up and running and now we are looking for support and solutions to:

• Streamline our process and cut costs in transport.
• Access funds to produce bulk coconut oil and attract customers so we can keep the factory running year round. 
• Find more local partners who are suitable for factory expansion.

NEED MORE INFO?

Please check out our website at www.lospalos.com.au, follow us on Instagram and Facebook or touch base with Steven Dean to talk about all things Coconut Oil and Timor Leste at [email protected]

Factory Expansion

With these funds we will expand our current facility, purchase another oil piston press and build a second dryer so we can double our production.

Production costs

Yeah we know, not very exciting, but an integral part of the business. 

We will need to produce a minimum of 10T to make international sales viable. You’ll be happy to know that wages are our biggest expense so you’ll be supporting the women of Lospalos with your pledge. 

This also includes shipping the oil back to Australia.

Wish List

If we do reach our target, then don't stop giving. We have a couple items that would go a long way to making ours, and the community of Lospalos lives a lot better:

4x4 Vehicle - $20,000

We would like to purchase a Toyota Hilux as they are common in Timor and parts are readily available. This will help us to move stores, product and ourselves to and from Lospalos. Our bottoms will thank you for it! 

2nd Factory - $41,500

A second factory in a neighbouring village near Lospalos would be a windfall for the local community. Providing another 6 jobs and suporting up to 20 families in the area.