D.R. Congo, Candles, and Tea: Lorna Owens’ Inspiring Journey to Founding Desert Sage and Footprints Foundation Lorna Owens’ road to creating Desert Sage Lifestyle Wellness exhibits an inspirational journey full of determination, philanthropy, women empowerment, captivating scents, meaningful travels, and tea.

With an impressive portfolio of ventures and titles, spanning from a business owner, tea and wellness expert, two-time book author, keynote speaker, non-profit leader, and certified nurse and midwife to an attorney, Lorna Owens has steadfastly remained on a mission to negate the ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ saying. Currently committed to perfecting her Desert Sage Lifestyle Wellness company and impacting lives through her Footprints Foundation organization, Lorna Owens has traveled the world, obtained a comprehensive education, and formed meaningful connections that led her to find her calling.

Born in Jamaica to a family that worshiped God, prompted by her mother’s opinion, Lorna redirected her life in her early adult years, becoming a nurse and parking her dreams of being a lawyer for the time being. Lorna went to the University of West Indies in Jamaica, where she obtained her nursing certificate, a certain ticket to heaven. Moving to the United Kingdom, Lorna studied midwifery at Good Hope Maternity Hospital in Sutton Coldfield. This signified a pivotal moment in her life, symbolizing her devotion to climbing the ladder of pregnancy-oriented fields.

In 1979, Lorna was recruited to work in the United States, filling the nationwide gaps relating to the nurse shortage. Moving across the pond brought long-forgotten dreams of becoming an attorney back to the surface. Lorna, equipped with years of academic and labor experiences, enrolled in university again, where she studied International Relations at Florida International University, followed by attending the University of Florida in Gainesville to study Law.

Shifted priorities and creeping burnout urged Lorna to walk away from practicing law. “Without a clear direction, a foggy picture of the future, and a life to manage, I found myself in a tough place. However, I never lost the feeling that something fulfilling was waiting around the corner,” adds Lorna.

In 2010, Lorna’s calling started revealing itself. While watching the news, she saw a heartwrenching material about rape used as a war weapon in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Learning about over 2 million women raped, abused, and taken advantage of has trembled the foundation she had built over the years. After flying to D.R Congo through Rwanda, Lorna stayed at a monastery, hoping her visit, accompanied by an attorney friend, would flourish into a profound mission fuelled by improving the lives of Congolese women.

Little did she know, Lorna ended up right in the heart of a deadly war, where shots fired out of nowhere, dead bodies in the streets, and fear looming above villages became her new reality. Amidst the turbulent landscape, Lorna had an opportunity to meet multiple survivors of rape. “I’ve never experienced anything so powerful,” shares Lorna. “We met with local doctors, traveled across Lake Kivu to the region of Bukavu, and learned about the awful mining culture, one of the main reasons of rape in D.R Congo. When we turned the corner, I was astonished; around 300 women were standing there, and they all traveled for hours on foot to see me.”

That night, there was a massacre in the village, with numerous casualties, roads covered in blood, and citizens jumping at the slightest noise. After getting a sense of the critical state of D.R. Congo, Lorna, alongside a team of doctors and volunteers, began providing comprehensive training for birth attendants. In D.R. Congo, nurses frequently deliver births in unorthodox circumstances, such as on the bare ground of a rainforest. They teach Traditional Birth Attendants safe delivery practices, including referring complicated deliveries to the hospital, also providing them with hygiene birthing kits and other essential supplies. The Foundation also trains doctors and midwives how to handle complications of pregnancies and newborn resuscitation.

The indescribable fulfillment she felt in D.R. Congo inspired Lorna to leave an impact on more communities in impoverished countries. That’s why she founded Footprints Foundation, a non-profit committed to educating women, providing birthing accessories, and offering midwifery training. The organization spread to other countries, including Jamaica, Somaliland, and other African nations. During her work in Jamaica, where Lorna teamed up with hospitals to train pediatricians, enabling them to excel at other specializations, Lorna realized that to maintain Footprints Foundation, she needed to find a sustainable cash flow that allowed her to carry out her philanthropic vision. In Jamaica, the Foundation partners with the Ministry of Health to train pediatricians to do the work of a neonatologist due to losing this talent to North America.

Her quest to support Footprints Foundation led her to establish Desert Sage, a producer of plant-based soy candles, all-natural shower essentials, and healthy and tasty fine teas. After hosting multiple pop-ups and partnering with renowned stores, Lorna and her business took off, gaining recognition worldwide.

In the near future, Lorna plans on traveling to Ghana, where, in addition to providing training for midwives, she wants to introduce an annual scholarship program poised to reduce maternal-infant mortality. For some people, breaching the $1 million mark is a self-fulfilling goal, but to Lorna, it symbolizes the ability to continue doing her virtuous work at Footprints Foundation.

“During COVID, I moved to a small town of DeLand and reset my life. I set up a brick-and-mortar store, where customers come, not only to purchase Desert Sages’ natural products, but also to come for wellness coaching, monthly wellness workshops, and receive invaluable advice and guidance as to the importance of teas and herbs as a part of a total wellness program. I get my produce from organic local farms, grow herbs and vegetables in my backyard, and enjoy a simple life,” says Lorna. “However, I do need the money to keep the Footprints Foundation running. My long-term goal is to drive Desert Sage to a seven-figure value to keep reducing maternal and infant mortality globally.”

Lorna Owens believes that even one person can make a difference. The best way you can contribute to this noble cause is to shop at Desert Sage and share their powerful story with others.

Media Contact 

Name: Lorna Owens

Email: contact@lornaowens.com