Eco-Soap Bank
Job creation and training for women to recycle and sell soap
Location: Cambodia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania
Co-sponsors: Ann McStay and Susan Miller
Eco-Soap Bank: A first-time grantee in 2020
Eco-Soap Bank (ESB) was founded in 2014. In recognizing that access to soap remains a key factor in reducing the spread of preventable diseases worldwide, ESB defined a three-pronged mission to address this critical need for hygiene and to raise the economic well-being of underserved populations as well. It seeks to: (1) create employment, backed by business training, for economically disadvantaged and disabled women who have no other reliable sources of income; (2) reduce waste of discarded soap by recycling soap from hotels and factories; and (3) save lives through the provision of hygiene products in a very cost-effective way.
Soap is received at ESB locations, cleaned, remolded, and cut into bars. This bar soap is sold to NGOs, hospitals, and government ministries that promote hygiene education in schools and communities to reduce the illness and mortality of hygiene-related diseases. ESB operates in 12 countries and has recycled 700 tons of soap into over 9 million bars. The women who participate in ESB programs receive free education and job training support to enable them to succeed.
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GRANT SUMMARY AND PURPOSE
2020: $30,000 will support the addition of hub manager positions for Cambodia, Nepal, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone, and scale operations and employment in those locations. Hub managers are responsible for creating, sustaining, and troubleshooting their respective enterprises in a locally relevant way using disciplines in logistics, manufacturing, and business development/sales.
IMPACT
Provide employment for 81 women and recycle an estimated 130 metric tons of soap. Soap sales will generate income for these women and supply hygiene products and education that will help to prevent illness and save lives.
