Sourcing doTERRA Lemon Eucalyptus

(doTERRA Lemon Eucalyptus co-impact sourcing)

Through its Vietnamese eucalyptus project, doTERRA helps local farmers ensure sustainable sourcing. Sustainable sourcing is very important to doTERRA's philosophy, so in this article, we present one such project.

In 2023, doTERRA examined the impact of its sourcing concerning Vietnamese Eucalyptus. The total number of people involved in the project was 102,361 - which shows the broadly considered impact.

• People supported through jobs: 5,578
• People supported through jobs, including family members: 21,196
• Number of people affected through social projects: 81,164

Why Kenya?

Vietnamese Eucalyptus essential oil comes from the leaves of the Vietnamese Eucalyptus tree, also known as "lemon-scented gum tree" and "blue-spotted gum tree" if we were to use a free English translation. To produce the highest quality lemon eucalyptus essential oil, the tree leaves need a lot of sunlight and grow best in warm, humid tropical environments.

The Harvesting Process

Vietnamese Eucalyptus plant material is harvested similarly to tea tree essential oil: the entire tree is cut down, allowing new shoots to grow the following year. Once the tree is cut, the leaves are collected for distillation. The leaves are processed by steam distillation to extract their essential oil.

Stories of Social Impact: Smallholder Farmers in Kenya

Mwatumbi and his wife have 10 children, most of whom attend primary school. He states: "I am grateful that through the harvests, I have been able to plan my life. I am able to pay school fees for my children. They were never sent away from school because they couldn't pay the school fees. When I harvest, I am able to pay two semesters' worth of tuition. I have also bought livestock. Currently, I have 27 cows and goats."

Behind the doTERRA Bottle | Meet Mwatumbi

Quote from the Farmer:

"My name is Philomena Chonyi, and I am from Mivumoni (Kwale County, Kenya). I joined the farmers' program in 2016, and I am happy to say that tremendous changes have occurred in my life since I joined the program. For example, I used to live in a house covered with palm leaves, but now I have managed to upgrade it to corrugated iron. I have also strengthened my home with pillars. I will continue to work with [doTERRA's supplier partners] because they have helped me grow economically—my children can now go to school."

Stories of Social Impact: Community Support

The doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation® has funded numerous projects in Kenya, including:

• Construction of additional classrooms and restrooms at Kiwegu Primary School.
• Construction of a school library, water tank, staff room, restrooms, and teacher housing at Mwamose Primary School, and provision of scholarships.
• Construction of the Mwena River bridge, allowing the community and schoolchildren to cross the local river.
• Construction of the Majengo Mapya Early Childhood Development Center.
• Construction of a community center.
• Indigenous culture and health training for 2000 schoolchildren.
• Colobus Conservation, which provides education and helps replant indigenous trees.
• The Mwamose Water Point – community well and water tower.
• The Water Preservation Trust, which conducts ongoing research and maintains community water sources.

Water connection to Kiwegu Primary School

 

In 2021, the following programs and initiatives were implemented:

• "Packages for Girls" were sent to 1000 girls in Lunga Lunga.
• 6000 people were supported with water connection to Kiwegu.
• 2000 students received support for school water connection.
• 12 students were supported with scholarships. The scholarships covered high school tuition and school expenses.
• 80 girls were supported in the Girls on Fire leadership training.

Supported scholarship students and their parents.

In addition to doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation donations, we have established a community development fund in Kenya. For every kilogram of essential oil produced by the farming cooperatives, a portion is set aside into a fund that the cooperatives oversee within their own authority to finance larger development projects.

Source: doTERRA Source to You - sourcetoyou.com/en/stories/story/lemon-eucalyptus

Source: https://www.doterra.com/US/en/lemon-eucalyptus-oil-education