Soap Making Nigeria formed part of a non-governmental project instigated and funded by Her Excellency, Dame Judith O.Amaechi, First Lady Rivers State, as part of her ambitious and worthy 'Empowerment Support Initiative', an NGO set up with the aim of promoting vocational training and enterprise for the disadvantaged in her region. Her hope was that soap making training would enable her people to return to their rural communities where they could set up micro enterprises.
Dame Judith Amaechi has become a beacon of hope to under-privileged women and youth in the trouble torn, Rivers State area. She has demonstrated exceptional humanity and commitment to development, gender equality and girl child education and, through her work with the State Ministry of Youth's Affairs and the National Women Coalition against HIV/AIDS received the accolade of most outstanding 'Friend of the Masses 2008'.
On May 29th, 2009 Makesoap.biz took eight intrepid soap makers into the no-go region of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria with the purpose of using soap making to improve the lives of 1,500 rural people.. Many people warned us of the dangers but perhaps the most dangerous regions are those where our help is most needed !.
The training took place in a large marquee where each soap maker ran two sessions a day training participants in groups of 12. At the end of the day the best trainees in each group had an extra session where they could practise their new skills.
Over twelve days we taught nearly 2000 people whilst another 1000 or so hopefuls waited at the gates - heartbreaking as it was, we just couldn't accommodate them. For this reason we focussed strongly on training ESI employees to become trainers and to continue our work once we had left.
As a team we cannot praise highly enough the hospitality, warmth and protection provided to us by Her Excellency Dame Judith, ESI, their volunteers and their friends and we also commend the courage and determination of all those we taught most of whom travelled many miles to receive their training. If you click the following link you will find a photo page of some of our most favourite moments of what was a most extraordinarily successful project..Soap Making Nigeria photo album - click here
