WHOLE FOODS MARKET® TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAMMOROCCO 2015 SUMMARY & IMPACT REPORT

Whole Planet Foundation® (WPF) funds microlending programs in Morocco where Frontier sources essential oils through Biolandes to create products which are sold in Whole Foods Market® (WFM) stores under the brand name Aura Cacia, a brand of WFM supplier partner Frontier. WPF is a WFM non-profit whose mission is to alleviate poverty by funding microlending programs where WFM sources products as a way to alleviate poverty and give back to our global communities.

Through the WFM Team Member Volunteer Program, WFM gives Team Members the unique opportunity to travel abroad with WPF to learn about WPF and meet microcredit clients, see where and how WFM products are grown, provide community service, experience and learn from other cultures, and challenge themselves by exploring exciting countries around the globe.

WHOLE FOODS MARKET® TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

WFM TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM TRAVEL IN MOROCCO

CULTURE AND TOURISM IN MARRAKECH

ARRIVAL IN CASABLANCA

VISIT WITH WPF SUPPLIER PARTNER FRONTIER AND BIOLANDES WHO SUPPLIES

FRONTIER BRAND AURA CACIA WITH ESSENTIAL OILS IN KHEMISSET

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT WITH BARAKA COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

IN TIJHZA

VISIT WITH MICROCREDIT CLIENTS OF INMAA, WHOLE PLANET FOUNDATION’S MICROLENDING PARTNER IN MOROCCO

IN OARZAZATE

11 WFM Team Member Volunteers traveled to Morocco to volunteer in Tijhza, a community in the Atlas Mountains that was severely f looded in 2014. Morocco is where WFM supplier partner Frontier sources essential oils for their products sold in WFM stores under the brand name Aura Cacia. The

volunteers rebuilt irrigation systems and beautif ied a home by painting the interior. They visited with microcredit clients of WPF partner INMAA and learned about the production of essential oils for Aura

Cacia. Team Members took Spanish lessons and learned about Moroccan culture, food, traditions, music and dance and celebrated Eid with a Berber community in the Atlas Mountains.

TEAM

Aileen Adler (Southwest Region, Lamar Store)

Bimini Hayes (Northeast Region, Greenwich Store)

Chris Naffziger (Southern Pacific Region, Kailua Store)

Duane Greeff (United Kingdom, Regional Office)

Kristen Tantarelli (Northern California Region, Coddington Store)

Kyle Lemus (Pacific Northwest Region, Kitsilano Store)

Lisa Orssaud Mid-Atlantic, North Wales Store)

Lukasz Karwowskki (Global Office)

SaraJane Mense (South Region, Charleston Store)

Sarah Young (Rocky Mountain Region, Colfax Store)

Tommy Navarre (Global Office)

MOROCCO 2015 SUMMARY & IMPACT REPORT

GROUP COORDINATOR Connor Frey

MOROCCO GUIDES Ismael Bizzou

PROJECT COORDINATOR Andy McKee

WFM TEAM MEMBER

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

MANAGER Genie Bolduc

ITINERARY- 2 WEEKS

Day 1 - Tuesday September 15 - Arrive in Casablanca, sightseeing old medina and the city walls, then visit the Quartiers des Habous - the new medina

Day 2 - Wednesday September 16 - Khemisset to visit WFM supplier partner Frontier and Biolandes Maroc, from whom they source essential oils & natural extracts

Day 3 - Thursday September 17 - In Ourrzazate, visit World Heritage Site Ait Ben Haddou, meet WPF microlending partner INMAA staff, lunch at the hotel of a microcredit client, evening cooking class

Day 4 - Friday September 18 - Visit WPF microlending partner INMAA and drive to Tijhza

Day 5 - Saturday September 19 - Community service with Baraka Community Partnership in Tijhza

Day 6 - Sunday September 20 - Community service with Baraka Community Partnership in Tijhza

Day 7 - Monday September 21 - Community service with Baraka Community Partnership in Tijhza

Day 8 - Tuesday September 22 - Community service with Baraka Community Partnership in Tijhza

Day 9 - Wednesday September 23 - Community service with Baraka Community Partnership in Tijhza

Day 10 - Thursday September 24 - Celebrated Eid holiday with the community in Tijhza

Day 11 - Friday September 25 - Say farewell to the community, community visits, hamam (baths) and hiking in Tijhza

Day 12 - Saturday September 26 - Marrakech and dine in the Djemaa el Fna, the open air central-square

Day 13 - Sunday September 27 - Marrakech guided tour, Bahia Palace, Tiskiwin museum, Saadian Tombs, Majorelle Garden

Day 14 - Monday September 28 - Transport to Casablanca

Day 15 – Tuesday September 29 - Depart for home

2015 MOROCCO ITINERARY SEPTEMBER 15 - 29

THE EXPERIENCEStaying in a Kasbah in Tijhza in the Atlas Mountains

Repairing irrigation ditchesSightseeing in Casablanca Celebrating Eid with the community

Visiting spice marketsHiking to the worksiteEating delicious pomegranates and figs

Team Members were introduced to traditional tagines and enjoyed a Moroccan meal made by Habiba a microcredit client of INMAA, Whole Planet Foundation’s microlending partner in Morocco. The team visited local markets to see the plethora of spices, olives and fruits

The team visited mosques, museums, market, the famous souk i(market) in Marrakech and Ait Ben Haddou, a Unesco World Heritage Site. They learned lives in the mountains with Berber people and got to experience their music and language. They even learned about rug making from microcredit clients.

The volunteers learned the ritual of making and the correct way to pour the sweet Moroccan tea that is ceremonially shared with you by welcoming hosts. They also had the good fortune to visit the hamam where they were vigorously bathed in a communal atmosphere.

FOOD

CULTURE

TRADITION

WPF MOROCCO MICROCREDIT PARTNER INMAA

FEMALECLIENTS

47% 93.80%

REPAYMENTRATE

2,504

WPF SUPPORTED CLIENTS AS OFSEPTEMBER 2015

History: INMAA was started in 1999 under an initiative of a local Moroccan NGO called AMSED (Moroccan Association for Solidarity and Development) which had long focused on vocational training and organization of micro-entrepreneurs in Morocco. INMAA formally launched field operations in 2001 as an independent NGO, with the support of USAID and the government trust fund for microfinance (the Hassan II Fund). During this period INMAA wanted to ensure the start up of an institution which would be able to reach out to rural zones and particularly the furthest southern regions in Morocco where historically marginalized peoples live in small rural communities. INMAA received technical assistance and some capital support from Catholic Relief Services in building its initial reach among southern communities and today boasts over 7,200 borrowers and has continued to avoid the easier to manage and access urban loans for the most excluded communities in rural Morocco.

WPF Partnership: Whole Planet Foundation began funding INMAA-Morocco in December 2010 with a 0% interest loan of $369,000 to reach new clients. In December 2013 after successful completion of this first project WPF invested a further $500,000 to help INMAA build up their presence in the communities east of Marrakech and add a further 1,000 borrowers Total WPF Authorized funds: $369,000 (G1)+$500,000(G2) = $869,000 Total WPF Funds Disbursed to INMAA Morocco: $769,000 Whole Planet supports the socially guaranteed loan product of INMAA in 7 branches across 2 regions of Central Morocco.

INMAA Morocco’s Approach: The mission of INMAA is to support the growth of micro-enterprises in the southern portions of Morocco with access to credit services that will strengthen ongoing micro-enterprise activities or encourage new micro-enterprises by the population. They prioritize rural zones, increasing access to credit for women and maintaining group lending approaches that empower those without a co-signer on their loan. INMAA’s portfolio is

divided though between group and individual lending as well as between men and women. In 2015 INMAA was the Africa/Middle East MFI of the year due to its unique drive to reach rural communities in a country in which most microfinance is heavily focused on large urban centers. One unique way that INMAA accomplishes this is by posting teams of two-four in small branches located in small communities that can form close relationships with these rural communities that may be generally distrustful of formal financial services or services. By keeping the branches small and managed by a roving regional director the MFI can keep operational costs low but maintain strong ties to their rural client base. This balance of sustainability and social mission is what WPF strives to support- and INMAA is one of our most affordable service providers!

WPF supports both INMAA’s group and individual loans as they are all socially guaranteed by either fellow borrowers or outside supporters of the client (not client assets or legal securities held by the MFI such as titles or payroll deductions). INMAA’s Director says that in reality any co-guarantor agreements carry little weight in getting repayments, especially for an MFI working in rural areas like INMAA (unless you can prove that the client literally just took the money and ran with it)- and that the burden is on the MFI staff to maintain good relations and carry out a realistic loan assessment. Their portfolio is 60% rural clients, and the rest are in the small towns of Morocco (they don’t derive any portfolio from the major city centers in Morocco such as Marrakesh, Rabat, Casablanca, etc.). INMAA’s repayment rate is about 98% which is considered very good and above the industry standard of 97%.

The INMAA Credit Agents are trained to form close relationships with their clients, and often collect/disburse in the field though clients also make transactions at the branches.

INMAA WEAVER’S COOP In Ouarzazate, Team Member volunteers were taken to INMAA’s Weaver’s Cooperative. There they were introduced to microcredit clients working in the cooperative and taught how to weave rugs. Many of INMAA’s clients raise the sheep, sheer them, dye the wool and make beautiful hand woven rugs to sell. The microcredit clients even took the time to show the individual Team Members the weaving process and invited them to help weave a rug.

HABIBA: HOTEL, RESTAURANT AND CLOTHING Staff from INMAA, Whole Planet Foundation’s micro lending partner in Morocco, took the Team Member volunteers for tea at a microcredit client home and to lunch at Habiba’s bed and breakfast. Habiba is a client of INMAA and runs a home stay. She welcomed the team for a lunch of tagine, cold rice salad and assorted vegetables and a desert of delicious cookies. Habiba encouraged the team to shop in her small boutique, situated in a room in the upper floor of her hotel where she had clothing and rugs for sale.

WPF STAFF The volunteers visited the INMAA branch office in Ourrzazate and spoke with INMAA staff about the process of microlending. WPF’s Brian Doe, Regional Director for Africa and the Middle East, traveled with the team adding great depth to their experience and how much they learned about microcredit and WPF’s support of INMAA.

\FRONTIER WHOLE FOODS MARKET SUPPLIER PARTNER

Information from Frontier Co-op:

Frontier began as a two-person operation in 1976 in a cabin along the Cedar River in Eastern Iowa. We have grown steadily since then to become a major supplier in the booming natural products industry. This outstanding performance throughout the years reflects our close harmony with both industry trends and the values of natural products consumers.

The business was originally structured as a cooperative that supplied herbs and spices to its members, all of whom were cooperatives engaged in retailing natural foods or cooperative buying clubs. Being a co-op itself helped propel Frontier into national distribution in rapidly expanding natural foods "co-op movement.”

Frontier also embraced many of the positive ideals underlying the popularity of co-ops. The early management envisioned a workplace where employees would enjoy their work, families would come first, the quality of products would be unsurpassed, organics would play a key role in the business and social responsibility would be inseparable from their actions. These values have been sustained—and have contributed significantly to Frontier’s success—throughout its entire history.

In 1978 Frontier bought and converted a grocery store building in Fairfax, Iowa, into a 5,200 square foot operations facility. During 1988 Frontier introduced a line of packaged spices. This was followed in 1991 with the introduction of a line of gourmet, 100% certified organic whole bean coffees. Frontier responded to this accelerating trend, capitalizing on its early success and bolstering its product line with the 1994 acquisition of Aura Cacia, a leading aromatherapy and natural personal care products company. Aura Cacia products include a full line of aromatherapy items such as essential oils, massage and body oils, mineral baths, and lotions. Frontier has grown the line into the clear aromatherapy market leader in natural health outlets nationwide, adding many innovative new products. Aura Cacia sells a wide variety of certified organic products and has created the Aura Cacia Organic 1% Fund to give back 1% of organic sales to supplier communities.

The Simply Organic brand, established in 2001, quickly established the same kind of leadership in packaged seasonings as Aura Cacia has in aromatherapy. Simply Organic became the fastest growing brand in natural seasonings and the leading brand of the explosively growing category of organic seasonings. The Simply Organic 1% Fund was established in 2002 giving back 1% of all Simply Organic sales in support of organic agriculture and education.

Beyond the fact that Frontier has listened attentively to its customers and responded wisely to trends and changes in the natural products industry, we have the advantage of sharing some basic values with the people buying our products.

Frontier led the industry in recognizing the value of organic agriculture and promoting organically grown products. The market for organics continues to grow, and Frontier is the established leader in organic selection and quality.

Frontier’s stated mission is to “Nourish people and planet. Always be Fair.” This statement helps guide the company in making decisions about how we interact with our employees, customers and suppliers. It serves as a driving force toward our passion to improve the lives of the farmers and their communities around the world that supply us with high quality herbs, spices and essential oils.

Frontier was also a trendsetter in employee relations, building a loyal, efficient workforce from the beginning with sincere communication and respect for employees at all levels of the organization. Innovative programs such as subsidized on-site childcare and meal programs, established over two decades ago, led to national recognition for workplace accomplishments at the same time Frontier was cited as one of the country’s fastest-growing companies.

The adherence to the company’s ideals regarding customer service, product quality, social and environmental responsibility and employee relations are intrinsic elements in Frontier’s impressive success over the years.For more information: Frontier Co-op 

LEARNING ABOUT ESSENTIAL OIL PRODUCTION Jennifer Ferring of Frontier and Philippe of Biolandes hosted the team in learning about essential oils produced in Morocco to be sold through Frontier’s body care products under the Aura Cacia brand. The team experienced sights and smells of the whole process from growing the herbs to picking them and rendering them through distillation. Frontier contributes to several social initiatives and is giving Whole Planet Foundation $100,000 this year to fund microlending programs, having supported the Foundation for xxxxx years.

BARAKA COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPSCOMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

Information from Baraka Community Partnerships:

The origins of Baraka started in Tijhza back in 2000 when Andy Mckee, one of Baraka’s Co-Founders started supporting the village with various small scale projects such as installing a water pipe, building school toilets and providing clothes and

school supplies for the village children. Baraka officially formed as a registered UK charity in 2008 (and in Canada in 2013) and has now developed to support about 40 projects in the four different countries of Morocco, Zambia, Laos and

India. Baraka’s ethos is one of helping communities and individuals to help themselves. We work at grass roots level and tend to

reach out to organizations which are getting no or little support from other organizations or their Government. We don’t believe in cash handouts but we do believe in long term partnerships with our chosen communities (hence the name!).

The majority of our work is in education; however we also have projects in healthcare, water and sanitation and income generation. We also have a passion for environmental issues and try to incorporate this into our projects where possible.

Baraka has grown and developed around the volunteer trips that we have organized to our projects. We strongly believe that it is important to connect donors with projects and the

people they are helping. This we find helps to create long lasting relationships between our donors and our recipients but it also crucially engages people with our charity for the long term.

It was a real pleasure for Baraka to host the Whole Foods Market Team Member Volunteer Program for the first time in September 2015 at the village of Tijhza in Morocco where it all began for us. Tijhza had been hit by some savage storms

in 2014 and the support of WFM provided a real boost to the reconstruction process. The feedback from the community after the trip has been fantastic and the group are most

certainly welcome to return in the future. Baraka would like to thank Whole Foods Market for their support for the village and we very much hope to work with them again in the future – whether back in Morocco or at our

other volunteer destinations in Zambia and Laos. If you would like to keep an eye on what we get up to around the world then either “Like” our Facebook page or go to www.barakacommunity.com. You can also sign up for one of

our regular enewsletters at a link on the website home page.

http://www.barakacommunity.com

Team Members learned about essential oils sourced in Morocco by WFM supplier partner Frontier through their brand Aura Cacia. They got to see how they are grown, harvested and processed.

The Team Member volunteers worked with members of the community to restore irrigation ditches and repair a home that was damaged in severe flooding.

Members of the community of Tijhza were gracious hosts, inviting the Team Members into their homes, sharing tea with them and inviting them to participate in their Eid celebrations.

THE PRODUCT THE PROJECTS THE COMMUNITY

When Team Member volunteers visited Morocco they were welcomed into the community of Tighza where Baraka Community Partnerships has built strong relationships. This provided the volunteers with the opportunity for total immersion, spending their waking hours learning and working with members of the community on community service projects funded by Whole Foods Market through the WFM Team Member Volunteer Program.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

COMMUNITY SERVICE The community of Tijhza in the Atlas mountains is a very remote community that suffered from severe flooding in 2014, leading to helicopter evacuation, washed out roads, destroyed irrigation ditches crucial to agricultural well-being and damaged many homes in the community.The opportunity to live and work amongst community members in such a remote community accessible only by foot or 4 x 4 vehicle was an amazing opportunity to be immersed in the community.

COMMUNITY SERVICE Baraka Community Partnership has been working in Tighza in 2000. 2015 was the first year for the Whole Foods Market Team Member Volunteer Program to direct funds and labor to this charming and welcoming community. An added benefit is that WFM funds were met, doubling impact in communities where Baraka works.

Moroccan delicacies

Friends for life

Casablanca

INMAA Weaving Coop

Community

MOROCCO

“Helping the villagers repair and restore the irrigation system after the devastating floods from the prior year was very rewarding. It was so clear that this water system is critical to the success of the crops and a life line to the villagers who do not have running water in their homes. Working side by side with the villagers was inspirational and heartwarming.”

TOMMY

“My experience on the WFM TMVP truly exceeded my expectations. This trip was unlike any other I've ever been on, and it moved me in ways other adventures never have. I was amazed at the way that the 11 WFM TMs came together pretty immediately and were an incredible team. The highlight was absolutely our time in the village. We were so warmly welcomed, and truly got the opportunity to immerse ourselves into the life and culture.”

SARAJANE

“Best 2 weeks of my life. It pushed me mentally and physically and humbled me. I got to meet other TM's from around the country and the UK. They and the people I met there are life long friends and I will never for them or the experiences we shared.”

LINDA

AILEEN

DUANE

“Sure the village got the biggest help from us but because we invested so much of our time, our energy and resources into rebuilding, but in return (unknowingly at that time) we got something priceless out of the experience : we developed really strong friendships within the group and with the villagers. The microcredit clients we met along the way showed us how to be resourceful and filled us with lasting impressions of inspiration and admiration. This trip was to go beyond myself to help others in need and it was also a time for reflection on my own life and putting it in perspective of the lives of the villagers and microcredit clients that we met.”

“I loved experiencing first hand Habiba talking about and showing us how she used some of her microloan to restore her home and buy beds to run it as a homestay/ bed and breakfast facility for tourists. Great to see the effect of the loans first hand!”

KYLE

BIMINI

“The program is a great way to get Team Members excited about Whole

Planet Foundation. Every year we hear “we're doing such and such to raise money for whole planet” but to actually see the effects of that work is humbling. I learned a lot about the country and history of a country I knew so little about. I will treasure all the friendships I made on the trip, not just with other WFM Team Members but with the people in the village.”

LUKASZ “This was an amazing experience, one that I will never forget. I made new friends with WFM team members and villagers from Tijhza. For a short period of time I was able to experience a different way of life and learn about a new culture. I especially enjoyed meeting the micro loan recipients and hearing their success stories. I also enjoyed the supplier visit and learning about the process of how essential oils are made and eventually brought to our stores. I will treasure this experience for the rest of my life.”

“A priceless experience I'll remember for years to come.”

SARAH

2015 MOROCCO WFM TMVP IMPACT

11 TEAM MEMBERS

4 DAYS OF REPAIRING IRRIGATION

DITCHES

1 HOME REPAINTED AND BEAUTIFIED

MORE THAN 11 LIVES CHANGED

FOREVER

3 MICROCREDIT CLIENTS MET

HUNDREDS OF ROCKS MOVED