At Causeartist, we love highlighting founders who turn lived experiences and community insights into solutions that change lives. Erik Olson, CEO of Dignity Made, has built a social enterprise tackling generational debt among coconut farmers in the Philippines.

What began as a single conversation with a farmer has grown into a thriving business that provides economic freedom, restores dignity, and protects vulnerable communities from exploitation.

There’s an ugly side to the coconut industry — one that traps farmers in extreme poverty, robs them of their land, and pushes families toward dangerous choices.

In the Philippines, home to 3.5 million coconut farmers, nearly 90% live below the poverty line.

Full interview

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