Spice Packaging Business

Group: Mind 2 Love Humanist Orphanage

Location: Monrovia, Liberia

Members: Hamza & Juliet Boakai, Fatu, Bendu, Jenneh, Emmanuel, Joseph, Saah, Mohammed, Kumba, Tamba

Email:  childrensecularsanctuarymindlo@gmail.com

Phone:+23138345692

What does humanism mean to your group?

I (Sarafina) became a humanist by self discovery. I was tired of the constant self pity that came with being religious. I have ailing health and I am constantly reminded

that God is good. It didn't make sense to me but I understood that sickness and ailments are natural phenomena and only the efforts of scientists that are human can give me hope. Humanism to me is a consciousness that one must attain when they understand the genius of the human mind and fully understand that

the human experience gave us everything beautiful that we now see in our world. If you are a partner who wants to spend our grant funds buying items for a needy community, please explain in the space below how you will tell recipients we are a humanist organization.

The orphanage is run on entirely irreligious grounds, i am a humanist myself, so is my fiancee, automatically all the children legally adopted by us are raised on the principle of secularism and doing good to humans across all borders.

Project

The Mind 2 Love Humanist Orphanage in Liberia, under the devoted care of Sarafina and Hamaza, is embarking on an ambitious and transformative initiative: the establishment of a large-scale spice production and packaging business. This enterprise is designed not only to generate a sustainable stream of income for the orphanage but also to empower its caregivers and older children with entrepreneurial skills, practical training, and a sense of ownership in building their future. The core idea behind this project is to turn Liberia’s abundant local spices such as ginger, turmeric, black pepper, chili, cloves, and lemongrass into high-quality, well-packaged consumer products. Using simple, cost-effective processing methods like solar drying, manual and electric grinding, and hygienic packaging, the orphanage will create a locally-branded spice line ready for sale in markets, stores, and restaurants throughout the country. The business will be physically set up within or near the orphanage grounds, with a dedicated production space and equipment sourced affordably, including spice grinders, solar dryers, packaging materials, labeling tools, and weighing scales.

Sarafina and Hamaza will oversee the daily operations, from sourcing raw materials from local farmers to supervising the spice preparation and packaging process. They will also handle marketing, distribution, and sales. As part of the operation, older orphans will be trained in safe, age-appropriate roles such as cleaning, labeling, packaging, and assisting with sales. Through this involvement, the children will not only gain valuable work experience but also understand the connection between effort, entrepreneurship, and community impact.

This spice business will serve as a sustainable economic engine for the orphanage, reducing its reliance on inconsistent donations and aid. Revenue generated from spice sales will be used to provide food, clothing, medical care, school supplies, and other essential services for the children. As production expands, the orphanage will also create job opportunities for local residents and strengthen its ties to the surrounding agricultural community by purchasing spices directly from smallholder farmers promoting both sustainability and local development.

In the long term, the business aims to establish a recognizable Liberian spice brand  one built on humanist values, child welfare, and ethical production. The orphanage will use its social mission as a key part of its branding, drawing support from local customers, regional markets, and potentially the diaspora. By building this enterprise from the ground up, Sarafina and Hamaza are planting the seeds of long-term stability for the children in their care, while also offering a model of social entrepreneurship that is replicable and impactful across Liberia.

Budget

Electric Spice Grinder / Grinding Mill – $120

Heavy-Duty Blender (for wet spices) – $60

Solar Dryer  – $50

Digital Weighing Scale – $30

Manual Sieves (for fine powder) – $15

Airtight Plastic or Glass Containers (bulk storage) – $40

Packaging Materials (bags, jars, seals) – $50

Label Printer or Custom Stickers – $40

Cleaning Supplies (brushes, gloves, sanitizer) – $25

Table + Workspace Setup (wood or recycled material) – $30

Spices - $40

Total - $500 

Expected Income from Project, with Timeline

The spice production and packaging business for the Mind 2 Love Humanist Orphanage is expected to launch within a 4-week timeline. In the first week, materials and equipment will be purchased, and the workspace prepared. Week two will focus on setting up the solar dryer, installing tools, and training Sarafina, Hamaza, and selecting older orphans on hygiene, processing, and packaging techniques. By week three, the team will begin test production using locally sourced spices, refining the process and packaging. By week four, the first batch of spices will be ready for sale in local markets and to nearby vendors. With consistent weekly production and sales, the project is estimated to generate $30–$50 in profit per week initially, translating to $120–$200 per month, with the potential to double or triple earnings within six months as the brand grows and customer demand increases.

Benefits to your Community

This spice production and packaging project will bring significant benefits to the surrounding community by creating new economic opportunities, supporting local farmers, and promoting sustainable agriculture. By sourcing raw spices directly from smallholder farmers, the project strengthens local supply chains and encourages consistent, fair-market purchasing. Additionally, it will create part-time jobs and skill-building opportunities for unemployed youth and caregivers in the area, fostering financial independence and community engagement. As the business grows, it will contribute to the local economy through sales, partnerships, and reinvestment, while also serving as a model of social enterprise rooted in compassion, sustainability, and self-reliance.