Enskinning Ceremony Recognizes The Blessing Basket Project and Whole Foods Market

ST. LOUIS - Oct. 13, 2016 - PRLog -- Tune in today, Thursday, October 13 at 11:30 am CDT on The Blessing Basket Project's Facebook page to watch the enskinning ceremony live. Theresa Carrington, of The Blessing Basket Project, and Whole Foods Market are being recognized for their commitment to bringing social and economic development to the people in the Zaare and Nyariga areas of Ghana, Africa. Chief Paul Asaana Agoo, the Chief of Zaare and Nyariga areas in Ghana, will enskin Theresa Carrington and name her Napoka Asigirema Maltinga Queen Mother of Development. The enskinning ceremony will take place at the Zaare Chief Palace in Ghana on Thursday, October 13, 2016, at 4:30 p.m. Ghanaian time (11:30 am CDT). Theresa Carrington, who will be known as the Queen Mother, will become the Development Leader of nearly 10,000 people who live in the Zaare and Nyariga areas in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Theresa's responsibility is to ensure the women living in the area are working together to sustain the livelihood of their families. This work includes weaving baskets, farming, and rearing livestock as well as educating their children and ensuring their wellbeing in order to create a brighter future for the area. Theresa will become a liaison officer between the people of North America who are supporting her development work in the area and the Chief of Zaare, Paul Asaana Agoo.

This honor is being bestowed upon Theresa because of her tireless work to bring social and economic development to the people in the Zaare and Nyariga areas for the last twelve years through her NGO, The Blessing Basket Project, which she founded and is Chief Executive Officer. Theresa has contributed significantly to the development of the impoverished people living in this area of Ghana.

Theresa could not have accomplished her development work alone. Therefore, Chief Asaana is also recognizing one of her most trusted and significant partners, Whole Foods Market, which is based in Austin, Texas, USA. Whole Foods Market is a 12-year partner of The Blessing Basket Project. At the enskinning ceremony, Brandon Martinez, a Whole Foods Market Team Member from Framingham, Massachusetts, USA, will stand as the representative for the nearly 90,000 employees and leaders of Whole Foods Market.

To recognize the important role Whole Foods Market, its team members and its leadership have played in enabling Theresa Carrington and The Blessing Basket Project to improve the lives of the people living in Zaare and Nyariga, Brandon will be made Nabia (Prince) of Chief Asaana's royal family. Brandon and/or any representative he chooses, will act as the liaison between Whole Foods Market and Theresa. With this enskinning, Chief Asaana is requiring that Theresa report to him annually regarding her progress, and Whole Foods Market's progress, on the economic development in his region.

Following the enskinning ceremony, Brandon Martinez will hereafter be known as Prince Agoo of the Zaare Chief Royal Family and Theresa Carrington will be known as Napoka Maltinga Queen Mother of Zaare and Nyariga Traditional Area.

Tune in today, Thursday, October 13 at 11:30 am CDT on The Blessing Basket Project's Facebook page to view the enskinning ceremony live.

About The Blessing Basket Project

The Blessing Basket Project® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that believes the rural poor in developing countries are quite capable of pulling themselves out of poverty. The Blessing Basket Project pays its artisans a Prosperity Wage®, which is significantly beyond fair trade, in fact, more than anyone else in the world. The mission of The Blessing Basket Project is achieved when the artisan uses their Prosperity Wages to graduate from the program into a life of sustainable financial independence. The Blessing Basket Project serves in Ghana, Uganda, Indonesia, Madagascar, Bangladesh, Kenya and Papua New Guinea. The Blessing Basket Project is an awardee of the 2016 UNAOC Intercultural Innovation Award.

About Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market and The Blessing Basket Project have partnered together for over a decade to bring economic prosperity, education and empowerment to people around the world. Through The Blessing Basket Project, the artisan receives a Prosperity Wage® for weaving the highest quality basket, which in turn Whole Foods Market stores then sell. Through their partnership with The Blessing Basket Project, Whole Foods Market funds have built a three-room schoolhouse, computer lab, and bathroom for girls in Ghana, Africa, as well as a deep water well where girls have access to fresh, clean drinking water.