Soap Maker
“First, you supported us with the palm oil trees.
We created a Co-op to transform the palm oil into soap. When we were in refugee camps in Tanzania, we saw how to create soaps so we started doing the same here.
We used to take the nuts, cut them with stones and then bring them to the city to press and get the oil. But thanks to the donors and LWF, now we have this pressing machine.
Before, when we had to go to the city we were working without making benefit. Now we save on travel time and costs.
Country
Burundi
Who you support
Isaia and his co-op
Occupation
Soap maker
"The money stays here in the community. Our soap is better than in the city!"
The community likes to buy our soap because you can get a bigger block for less money and our soap is cleaner. We charge 500-1000 Burundian francs (25-50 cents) depending on the size of the block.
Other Co-ops also come here and use our resources to process their products. We don’t charge them for using our equipment. They come to buy our product and go to sell in another area or they buy palm nut oil to use for making soap.
The whole nut is used – every part of it we use for something. Some residue is used to make compost to use on our crops. The excess water goes into a small pond – it also contains husks and is left to decompose and used with the compost. We also grow beans and bananas around here.
This year with the benefits we could buy a cow. Previously we bought a pig. In the future, we would like to buy a plot of land where we could plant our own palm trees to continue to develop the activity.
We are really happy about the support from LWF and donors from Australia. We are really working on our development. We would like to thank the donor for this and the way we can now live better.”
Why your help is needed
Burundi is one of the 20 countries most impacted by climate change. Families face a high risk of natural disasters like flooding, which threaten both homes and livelihoods. This is especially serious because 84 percent of people rely on farming.
The impact is heartbreaking, more than half of all children are malnourished. Without new and reliable ways to make a living, families remain trapped in vulnerability. Sustainable opportunities are desperately needed.
How your hour changes lives
Soap-making offers families a sustainable livelihood that doesn’t depend on the weather. By selling soap and its by-products—such as animal food and compost—families can earn income that helps them cover essentials like:
- Food
- Education for children
- Medicine for their families
- Livestock
- Land
- And the chance to grow their soap-making business
With these opportunities, families can become stronger, healthier, and more resilient. Whole communities benefit as people find dignity and stability in the work of their own hands.