education and economic opportunity for all girls and women

unlocking the last mile

The Dandelion Foundation is dedicated to scaling educational and economic opportunity for girls and young women, including pregnant students and young mothers, across our partner schools in Tanga City and Tanga Rural. By bridging critical resource gaps—from school retention and hygiene supplies to health networks and skill-building—we help students stay in school, build financial independence, and thrive. See below for our core programs and support pillars.

Our mission

The Dandelion Foundation is a U.S.–Tanzania public-private partnership investing in regenerative infrastructure and circular economy assets that scale from deployment to operational self-sufficiency.

As a shared procurement, manufacturing, and logistics utility, we eliminate the basic-needs barriers keeping girls and young mothers out of school. By combining industrial volume purchasing, engineering partnerships, and community consignment distribution, we deliver essential hygiene, infant, and educational supplies across Tanzania at 75% below commercial retail cost.

TARGET OUTCOMES

Health: Reduced infections, dignified postpartum recovery, zero period shame.

Education: 0% period absenteeism, secondary school completion, VETA diplomas

Economics: Local retail commissions, vocational credentials, market independence.

Supply chain

Direct Industrial Contracting: We bypass wholesalers and retail packaging markups by negotiating directly with domestic East African converters for standardized, unbranded bulk runs.

Corporate Logistics Underwriting: Modeled on corporate freight underwriting, we partner with domestic transport fleets, beverage logistics networks, and regional carriers to donate transit capacity.

Decentralized Staging & Assembly: Regional cooperative facilities (AMCOS) and volunteer hubs manage batch breakdown, eliminating expensive urban warehousing footprints.

PlantPad — Prakash Lab's PlantPad explores how sisal and other plant fibers can become absorbent materials for menstrual pads. The project connects materials research with the possibility of smaller-scale, local manufacturing to improve access to menstrual products.
Great Wrap develops compostable alternatives to conventional cling and pallet wrap. Its work includes potato-waste innovation and compostable material blends, exploring how everyday packaging can become less dependent on petroleum-based materials.
Bananatex turns abacá, a plant in the banana family, into durable, plastic-free textiles. It shows how plant fibers can offer an alternative to synthetic fabrics while bringing material sourcing and end-of-life considerations into product design.
Mushroom Packaging uses mycelium, the branching network of fungi, to bind hemp-processing leftovers into protective packaging. The material is grown into shape, offering a compostable alternative to conventional plastic packaging foam.
BIOHM grows mycelium through industrial and agricultural by-products to develop materials such as building insulation. Its work explores how biological manufacturing can turn underused resources into functional construction materials.
Saathi makes biodegradable and compostable sanitary pads using banana fibers sourced from agricultural by-products. Its approach connects menstrual care with additional income opportunities for farmers, local employment, and access initiatives in underserved communities.
Mogu combines mycelium with upcycled textile residues to create sound-absorbing interior panels. Its products turn material leftovers into designed surfaces that help improve acoustic comfort in indoor spaces.
Notpla develops seaweed-based alternatives to selected single-use plastic packaging. From edible liquid pods to coatings for takeaway containers, its products use different material designs to meet everyday packaging needs.
Keel Labs creates Kelsun, a bio-based textile fiber made using seaweed-derived ingredients. Its work explores an alternative textile feedstock grown without freshwater irrigation or agricultural land.
Newlight uses microorganisms to turn greenhouse gases into AirCarbon, a moldable biomaterial. Used in products such as foodware and accessories, it demonstrates how captured carbon can become a manufacturing input.
LanzaTech uses bacteria to convert carbon-rich waste gases into ethanol, which can become ingredients for fuels, chemicals, packaging, and textiles. Its technology gives recovered carbon another use while reducing reliance on newly extracted fossil inputs for some material components.
Baby2Baby is a national nonprofit that provides diapers, clothing, and basic necessities to children living in poverty and disaster areas. Instead of giving items directly to individuals, they secure donations and manufacture items in bulk to distribute through a network of nearly 1,000 partner organizations like shelters, schools, and hospitals.

get Involved

For questions or partnership inquiries, please submit your contact information and our team will reach out.

“

Local knowledge. Shared commitment. Lasting possibility.

-Alejandro Jimenez

Tanga City

12834 Fitness Ln.
Los Angeles, LA
11385

Tanga Rural (west)

12834 Fitness Ln.
Los Angeles, LA
11385

education and economic opportunity for all girls and women

unlocking the last mile

Find opportunities

Our mission

TARGET OUTCOMES

PlantPad — Prakash Lab's PlantPad explores how sisal and other plant fibers can become absorbent materials for menstrual pads. The project connects materials research with the possibility of smaller-scale, local manufacturing to improve access to menstrual products.

Great Wrap develops compostable alternatives to conventional cling and pallet wrap. Its work includes potato-waste innovation and compostable material blends, exploring how everyday packaging can become less dependent on petroleum-based materials.

Bananatex turns abacá, a plant in the banana family, into durable, plastic-free textiles. It shows how plant fibers can offer an alternative to synthetic fabrics while bringing material sourcing and end-of-life considerations into product design.

Mushroom Packaging uses mycelium, the branching network of fungi, to bind hemp-processing leftovers into protective packaging. The material is grown into shape, offering a compostable alternative to conventional plastic packaging foam.

BIOHM grows mycelium through industrial and agricultural by-products to develop materials such as building insulation. Its work explores how biological manufacturing can turn underused resources into functional construction materials.

Saathi makes biodegradable and compostable sanitary pads using banana fibers sourced from agricultural by-products. Its approach connects menstrual care with additional income opportunities for farmers, local employment, and access initiatives in underserved communities.

Mogu combines mycelium with upcycled textile residues to create sound-absorbing interior panels. Its products turn material leftovers into designed surfaces that help improve acoustic comfort in indoor spaces.

Notpla develops seaweed-based alternatives to selected single-use plastic packaging. From edible liquid pods to coatings for takeaway containers, its products use different material designs to meet everyday packaging needs.

Keel Labs creates Kelsun, a bio-based textile fiber made using seaweed-derived ingredients. Its work explores an alternative textile feedstock grown without freshwater irrigation or agricultural land.

Newlight uses microorganisms to turn greenhouse gases into AirCarbon, a moldable biomaterial. Used in products such as foodware and accessories, it demonstrates how captured carbon can become a manufacturing input.

LanzaTech uses bacteria to convert carbon-rich waste gases into ethanol, which can become ingredients for fuels, chemicals, packaging, and textiles. Its technology gives recovered carbon another use while reducing reliance on newly extracted fossil inputs for some material components.

get Involved

“

Local knowledge. Shared commitment. Lasting possibility.

Tanga City

Tanga Rural (west)

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