By Merry Fredrick | Executive Director
In January, the Self-Help executive director had the opportunity to watch the Nokware women in Ghana make soap from their palm oil. It was a real treat that must be shared with all of you! Enthusiasm and excitement among 30 women was contagious. They proudly demonstrated their new trade - making laundry soap from their palm oil - and with each step in the process their faces were beaming!
In review, screw presses (purchased through your gifts) squeeze more oil from palm fruits increasing the amount of oil extracted. In addition, presses reduce time the required to process oil. Increased oil, harvest time for palm oil, and bumper crops can cause gluts in the market and low prices for palm oil. Having the alternative to make and sell laundry soap is proving to be a real asset by adding value to their oil and family incomes.
Currently the six groups have three molds. Each mold makes 72 bars, usually sold within two days. An average family in Ghana uses two bars of laundry soap each week, so the market is ever present. The next step is to acquire funding to purchase more molds so that each women's groups have molds! The women are so proud of their product and thank you for believing in them through your support!
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