Ai-Funan is a unique line of handmade soaps produced from local, all-natural ingredients in Timor-Leste. Ai-Funan, meaning “flower” in the Timorese language, is a true cottage industry, operated solely by a small group of women in Timor-Leste. The Hummingfish Foundation is proudly working with these women to re-brand and export this beautiful line of soaps. Coconut, guava, candlenut, frangipani, lemongrass, and coffee are the six sumptuous flavors being produced. Each bar of Ai-Funan soap is handmade locally, in the city of Baucau, and contains 100% all-natural ingredients, including locally produced organic coconut and palm oils.
Ai-Funan (The Timorese word for flower) soaps are handmade by a women’s cooperative in Timor-Leste and contain 100% all-natural ingredients. No artificial colors, scents, or preservatives are ever used in any Ai-Funan soap. 100% of the profits from the sales of Ai-Funan soaps goes back to support the women of Timor-Leste. The continued success of Ai-Funan soap project provides incentive for the entire Ai-Funan community to protect and nurture their lands and forests.
Before the Hummingfish Foundation began working with Ai-Funan, the women were selling their product to the domestic market only. Therefore the living they made was a very small one. This re-branding project has added value to the Ai-Funan product through quality control and attractive packaging, and is also giving the women access to markets in countries all over the world.
The Hummingfish Foundation is helping the ladies of Ai-Funan generate more income, which will have an enormous and long-lasting impact not only on their lives, but the lives of their families as well. Making this business successful will turn them into role models for other young women and people with nature-friendly business ideas all across Timor-Leste. They are clearly green entrepreneurs in every sense of the word.
Coconut, guava, candlenut, frangipani, lemongrass and coffee are the six sumptuous flavors being launched. Each bar of Ai-Funan soap is handmade and contains 100% all-natural ingredients including locally-produced organic coconut and palm oils.
As one of their biggest fans, the Hummingfish Foundation is extremely excited to be involved with the ladies of Ai-Funan, and is very much looking forward to bringing their all-natural handmade soaps to the world.
Based on an independent lab-test done for Ai-Funan soaps, Ai-Funan is well within compliance for the United States Food and Drug Administration, The People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong’s standards for cosmetics!! Ai-Funan soaps are pure, handmade and good for your and your environment.
The Success Stories
Ai-Funan sold on Cathay Pacific Airlines
The first major success story regarding the Ai-Funan brand came soon after the start of the official launch, in early 2013: a one-year contract with Cathay Pacific Airlines! In April, 2013, they began selling the Ai-Funan line of soaps on all of their 250 daily flights, including a three-soap mini-pack, made exclusively for them.
Future plans
The Hummingfish Foundation is helping the Ai-Funan cooperative generate more income, which will have an enormous and long-lasting impact not only on their lives, but the lives of their families as well. Making this business successful will turn these women into role models for young women and for other nature-friendly businesses all across Timor-Leste. They are clearly green entrepreneurs in every sense of the word.
As one of their biggest fans, the Hummingfish Foundation is extremely excited to be involved with the ladies of Ai-Funan, and we are very much looking forward to sharing their beautiful all-natural, handmade soaps with the world.
Have a look at a 30 second spot broadcast on Hong Kong TV program – J2 “Own Sweet Home.”
Read more: Ai-Funan sold on Cathay Pacific Airlines