Askinosie to Take 'Chocolate University' Students to Tanzania

Askinosie Chocolate, in partnership with Drury University, selected 13 Springfield, Mo., high school students for its upcoming Chocolate University program. The students, along with Shawn Askinosie, founder and CEO of Askinosie Chocolate, will travel to Tanzania, where Askinosie Chocolate sources a portion of its cocoa beans, in August. 

Through its Chocolate University program, Askinosie Chocolate has developed a relationship with the Mwaya Secondary School in the Kyela district of Tanzania over the past four years. During the trip, the Chocolate University students will participate in the cocoa business firsthand by meeting with the farmers and aiding with community development projects already in place at Mwaya. 

Before the trip, the students will spend time at Askinosie Chocolate as well as Drury University to take part in a chocolate immersion with classes about the chocolate industry, social entrepreneurship and leadership. The orientation began at Drury University on Dec. 14. 

This is the third Tanzanian Chocolate University trip, with groups led by Askinosie also traveling to the Kyela district in the summers of 2010 and 2012. Those interested in following the journey can visit the Chocolate University’s website at chocolateuniversity.org, or Askinosie Chocolate’s Facebook page at facebook.com/askinosie.chocolate. 

Chocolate University is a neighborhood and global outreach and experiential learning initiative of Askinosie Chocolate. It was formed with a vision to provide a learning experience to Boyd Elementary, Pipkin Middle School and local high school students through the lens of artisan chocolate-making and small business. The goals of the project are to inspire the children about entrepreneurship and a world beyond their own. Askinosie Chocolate funds Chocolate University through 100 percent of their tour proceeds and contributions. 

Askinosie Chocolate is a small-batch chocolate manufacturer. Askinosie travels to regions of Ecuador, Honduras, the Philippines and Tanzania to work directly with the farmers and source cocoa beans for his chocolate. This allows the chocolate to be traced to the source and labeled Authentic Single Origin Chocolate. It also enables Askinosie Chocolate to profit-share with the farmers.