When women support each other, incredible things happen. And every little support given counts. In my first month as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer, I was hosted by an incredible woman, who together with her daughter, gave me the safety and comfort of a home. In this first month, my host family and I decided to make liquid soap as a means of reducing household costs. This soap proved quite effective, and we continued making it at home. With this newly found activity that helped reduce household costs, my host mother was set to encourage other women in the village to do the same. I trained more and more women, and they were all grateful to learn this new skill.
One woman that I trained, continued making the soap for her home and sharing it with her friends. One day she called me, asking me to train her friends to make the soap, because sharing hers with them would soon prove difficult. “Why not just sell the soap to them?” I asked her. Her response caught me in awe. “We are all in the same situation, just looking for a way we can save an extra cent to support our families. Instead of keeping this skill to myself, I promised them that we would stand together.” This was quite a selfless act that continued to reassure me of the love and support that women have for one another.
Fast forward, months later the lady invited me to her group where I trained 23 women in liquid soap making. Initially, this activity was to empower women to learn an essential skill and reduce household costs. After the first training, every member carried a liter of soap home. While they all used the soap at home, three women sold half of their liter at Kshs.50, equivalent to the common price for half a liter of liquid soap in the village. With this little sale, the women realized that the liquid soap-making activity was an incredible opportunity for income generation. However, instead of doing it alone, they wanted to do it as a group.
In the next group meeting, we collaborated to make 40 liters of liquid soap. The money for purchasing the materials was drawn from their table banking venture. Each willing woman then purchased the liquid soap at a price of Kshs.50 per liter, which was cheaper as compared to the common price of Kshs.100 per liter in the village. The profit of Kshs.800 was then put back into the table banking venture, while the capital borrowed was set aside to purchase 40 more liters for sale next time. This activity is ongoing and continuously generates profit for table banking. This activity also promotes individual women in the group. Some women bought more liters of soap to sell within the community. While they bought a liter at Kshs.50, they sold it at Kshs.80, which helped them to easily raise their monthly contribution for the table banking venture.
From one woman to two, to twenty-three, the liquid soap-making activity continues to improve women’s lives in my community. The beauty of CorpsAfrica is that it gives women the power to believe in themselves. What started as an activity to reduce household costs, has grown into an income-generating activity that increases funds for table banking, thus allowing financial inclusion for even the most vulnerable members of the community. As a CorpsAfrica Volunteer, I have learned that acts of kindness create a ripple effect that spreads this kindness to more and more people. The women in my community, show how supporting each other is key, to achieving greatness. Truly, when women support each other, great things happen!
