400 hands, 200 women

 400 hands, 200 women 

From the 19th to the 21st of March 2024, I implemented my project in empowering women through soap making training. Three days, three communities, 200 women. A project that exceeded my expectations before, during and after it. 

The preparatory period has been rather stressful, an endless list of things to worry about: 

1. Budget 
2. Monitoring 
3. Materials 
4. Contacts with the communities 
5. Facilitators 
6. Transports and so on

And the funniest and craziest thing is that when the project starts there are some many unforeseen events that most the things need to be re-designed. 

But then, when you are there, surrounded by happy, grateful and enthusiastic women, even the things that are not working start working. 

What did we do? 

The training consisted in showing these groups women all the steps needed to produce liquid soap. The training started with a "theorical part" where the facilitator was explaining all the steps and ingredients, after that the women were asked to repeat what they heard. The second part was the practical implementation of what learnt before. At the end of the training the facilitator gave the last tips and contacts for the women to have access to all the materials. 

I am so grateful I have part of this strong and women powered whirlwind. Seeing so many people believe in it, made me believe in it even more. I am so grateful we were able to reach so many women and the impact was so positive. And I am so grateful the training went beyond the training in itself but was also an opportunity to be fully immerse in these three local communities and feel as part of them.