Bill Criswell, Bill Stoffregen, Peter Radtke

The Story

About 6 years ago, the Mauritanian government invited our friends Bill Criswell, founder of Impact Team International based in Seattle, and Bill Stoffregen, founder of Homewood Nursery in Raleigh, NC, to Mauritania, West Africa. Considered to be one of the most disadvantaged countries of the sub-Sahara, the Mauritanian government was looking to find new economic opportunities and had invited the Bills to come and help identify job opportunities.

As they traveled the country, Bill Stoffregen noticed trees that appeared to grow very well in the desert environment of this sub-Saharan region. When he learned that these trees were Neem trees, he realized he had been using a natural product from exactly this tree in his greenhouse back home. With this discovery, the two men began to wonder whether the Neem tree, that already grew in the country, yet, was not used for commercial purposes, could become a resource for the Mauritanian people.

Upon their return to the US, they began to research the Neem tree and its different uses. The findings convinced them that this tree could very well be an answer to the Mauritanian government’s quest. Thus, the vision was born to utilize the Neem tree for economic opportunities for the Mauritanian people.

Shortly thereafter, Bill Stoffregen, in collaboration with the University of Nouakchott, Mauritania funded a research study on existing Neem trees in the country. Many trips to Mauritania followed to negotiate with government personnel, business owners, and university professors on ways to utilize Neem as an economic resource.

In 2004, Peter Radtke, a biochemist by profession, joined the team. Together they extended their research on the amazing features of the tree, initiated the testing of active ingredients in Neem from Mauritania, and built a rather amazing network of friends who shared and embraced their vision of the “Neem Project.”

The search for a practical application of Neem led the three to the uses of Neem in India, where people mainly utilize Neem in their cosmetic industry, in soaps, body care products, and health supplements. This application appealed to the Bills and Peter and they began to focus on the development of personal care products. The small, yet tangible idea of making Neem soap to utilize the medicinal properties of Neem from Mauritania, West Africa, was born.

The Other Beginning

Magda Radtke started as a hobby soapmaker in 2005. During a six-month sabbatical from teaching emotionally disturbed boys, she learned about the fascinating chemical process of “saponification,” the process that turns oils and fats into soap that, in turn, attacks the oils and fats from which it is made. Talking to the two Bills and Peter, she embraced the vision of using Neem in soap making. She gathered a group of friends together and began producing and selling Neem soap, as well as raising awareness of this amazing tree at craft shows and the Farmers Market in Raleigh, NC.

In 2007, we chose the name “JustNeem” for our small company, registered as a business, and filed for trade marking of name and logo. In the spring, we established a collaboration agreement with an NGO in Mauritania. The 2006 soap sales provided the funds for this NGO to plant 1000 Neem trees for 1,000 families in villages surrounding Nouakchott, the capital city. These tree owners will soon reap the benefits of their Neem tree as it grows to maturity in only five years. In the very near future, these 1,000 trees will help provide income to their owners as well as shade in a very hot desert climate.

In the fall, we placed our first large order of Mauritanian Neem. The our partnering NGO hired a local man who harvested and processed Neem from existing trees in response to the order. In December, we received our first large batch of Neem from him. Paying him a fair market price, JustNeem provided financial stability for him and his family for one year.