On the 23rd of May 2012, Homegrown Foods Hong Kong Ltd., which is Hong Kong’s largest distributor of organic produce and exclusive distributor for Ai-Funan in Hong Kong, will be holding a high-profile media launch for Ai-Funan in Hong Kong.

The Honorable Jose Ramos-Horta has agreed to record a video message, which will be released at the launch event in Hong Kong and the Honorable Vicky Tchong, Timorese Ambassador to China has also agreed to attend.

The Hummingfish Foundation is currently seeking contributions to cover the costs of flying two of the women from the soap production facility in Baucau, Timor-Leste to Hong Kong for this important event.

It is believed, that the international travel experience, exposure to one of the word’s to retail destinations, exposure to Hong Kong’s lifestyle and spa media and tours of high-end health and beauty shops would be invaluable to these women and the long term sustainability of the soap making/Ai-Funan project.

Hummingfish has already secured one return airfare from Air Timor and is currently seeking the additional funds listed below.

The Hummingfish Foundation would like to thank the Social Enterprise Association of Singapore for covering the shipping costs of about 350 bars of Ai-Funan soap.

100% of the funds from the Ai-Funan soaps go back to support the woman’s cooperative the make them.  Every dollar we save for costs, such as shipping, is a dollar that goes to support these women.

Thank you!

Daniel J. Groshong
Founder & Director
The Hummingfish Foundation

The Hummingfish Foundation is a non-profit organization and we can not do our work without generous donations like the one we received from Mr. Ingpen.

Please take a moment to visit Mr. Ingpen’s website (http://www.podservices.com.au/) and see some of his great underwater photographs (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bantu-wind/).

Thank you Mr. Ingpen.

Read Mr. Ingpen’s comments about The Hummingfish Foundation

Hi Guys,
I found out about your inspiring operation whilst looking for East Timor dive opportunities- I’m currently spend as much time as I can diving and taking photos in Indonesia, PNG and surrounds and was looking for an operation such as yours in this region to support.

As someone who created a niche small business 12 years ago from an initial investment of $5k, I fully understand the difference you will be making to Individuals starting up, as well as the economy, environment and the region as a whole.

Its my pleasure to give a little bit to your foundation. I’ve been spending a bit of time being troubled by the threats to habitat and biodiversity in the SE Asia region and really believe the only sensible way to approach it is to promote the responsibly managed eco tourism operations that are locally owned. I’m sure these small operations miss out on well heeled visitors because of their understandable lack of marketing tools and quality visuals to promote their natural resources. Just look at Wakatobi Resort’s quality of imagery and wide exposure: suddenly to the paying public it looks as if this is  the only place in Indo’ with clear water and cuttlefish! Anyway, the support you provide seems to me the best way to empower those locals who are giving it a go, generating local/sustainable income, protect healthy ecosystems and promote biodiversity. You seem to have a small, creative, motivated team, which I always think is a the best value!

We expect to have our first bags of freshly roasted coffee available in Hong Kong by June 2012.

If you would like some fantastic coffee and you would also like to support the good work of Hummingfish and Teng Hoi, please order some Koto Coffee now.

Where can I buy Koto Coffee?

The Colour Brown Cafe
34 & 36, See Cheung Street,
Sai Kung, Hong Kong
colourbrown@gmail.com
+852-2791-7128
Facebook= colour brown coffee

The Hummingfish Foundation (online)
Follow this link to buy online

Groshong spoke for 20 minutes on Facetime, with Mary Zheng, the show’s host about his career as a photographer and the founding of The Hummingfish foundation.

Take some time to view the segment on the GDTV website. (Facetime)

Here is a brief English translation of the article:

“Ai-Funan, as shown in the photo, is a social entrepreneurship movement created for poor women in Timor-Leste by the Hummingfish (Foundation). It is a nature-friendly soap business using all-natural ingredients such as organic coconuts, palm oil, guavas, frangipiani and candlenuts from Timor-Leste.

Ai-Funan’s success can prevent this beautiful country from heading down an irreversible path of environmental destruction typically associated with economic development.

It has helped save a piece of paradise on earth.”

Read the KIOSK story online.

Read the CE.cn story