World Connect

SOAP MAKING FOR YOUTH ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROJECT

Year: 2021

Country: Malawi

Project Status: Funded

Impact Sector: Economic Opportunity

Project Investment: $6,542.50

Project Launch: 9-9-21

Using $6,542.50 World Connect Investment, Lilongwe Youth Organization will work with youth from Kauma Community, in Traditional Authority Chitukula in Lilongwe to establish a soap making centre for economic empowerment. The project will use modern equipment such as electrical mixers and cold rooms to increase quantity as well as improve quality of soap being produced. A total of 20 youths will be trained in soap production after which they will proceed to establish a group business where they will be producing and selling laundry and bathing soap produced with different fragrances. The youth are hopeful that the income earned will reduce unemployment levels as more and more youth will venture into business using the products from this business.

Project Update: 10-7-21

In less than twenty days after receiving 60% of the $6,542.50 approved World Connect grant, Yamikani Chunga, a YALI-Mandela Washington Fellow and also the Executive Director for Lilongwe Youth Organization has successfully initiated implementation of the Soap Making project called Soap Making for Youth Economic Empowerment Project (SOMAYEEP) in Kauma area of Lilongwe, Malawi. Thirty-two (32) members of the group have completed a three-day soap making training gaining skills in soap production in the process. As part of the preparation to start actual production, the group has installed and fixed an air conditioner to reduce soap drying time, purchased two ten liters’ electric cake mixers, two digital scales and other manual mixers. With the soap already showing huge market potential based on feedback from people that used the trial soap produced during the training, the group is remaining with soap pricing, branding and mass production so that they are fully operational. Highly promising project.