60 people in and around the Inke refugee camp near Gbado-Gboketsa, 30 women and 30 men, just completed their training to make soap.
learning to cut the soap into bars
These 60 people represented 8 associations amongst the refugees and from the nearby village. Covenant World Relief (CWR) provided the funds for this training. The objective was to provide these refugees from the ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic a means to a) make soap for themselves, and b) have some to sell to earn some of their own money for their medical care, clothes and household needs.
measuring the caustic soda
heating the oil
adding colorant and scent
pouring it into the mold
Rev. BOFIO Nubea is the CEUM’s Director of Projects and responsible for this ministry. Rev. Bofio traveled to Inke the end of April and oversaw the teaching the first week of May.
fresh soap cooling
block of soap ready to be cut
It was critical that the associations not just receive the training, but also the basic equipment to start making soap themselves. Accordingly, at the end of the training each association received a soap making “kit” composed of: an empty barrel, a cutting table, 25 kg of caustic soda, a large basin, a large jug, goblets for measuring quantities, colorant for the soap, gloves, aprons, cord for cutting the soap, stirring spoons and 25 liters of palm oil.
kit for making their own soap
With this kit they are now capable of making soap themselves and earning their own money for some of their families’ many needs. Without question, they were all very happy for the training and encouraged, asked Rev. Bofio and the CEUM help them with other similar training. They promised Rev. Bofio that “they will work hard as this is the first time [for them] to have an income generating activity such as this in their village and in the refugee camp.”
The week after receiving the training several of the refugees went to nearby Gbado-Gboketsa and trained students at the Bible Institute to make soap. They are already passing on what they received.
We give thanks to CWR for their support of this project and of the CEUM’s outreach to the refugees.
The missionary group that I am affiliated with, Master’s Touch Ministries, will be in Congo August 6-13th. We too, would like to assist women of two churches in Congo with a soap making, and selling initiative. We will be purchasing the equipment there. I am interested in knowing how you acquired the supplies.
Also, can I have contact information of Reverend Bofio Nubea, the CEUM’s Director of Projects. I wish to check on his availability during that week, &/or training information.
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