Widow in Malawi turns to soap making to support her family and empowers other women
In September 2022, Ivy Chirwa started the Yeretsa Soap Production Project after learning how to make soap online.
Malawi: After her husband passed away, a widow in Malawi's Malomo, Ntchisi district, turned to making soap to provide for her family, writes William Mwale.
In September 2022, Ivy Chirwa started the Yeretsa Soap Production Project after learning how to make soap online.
"After my husband passed away in September of last year, leaving me with four children and no financial support, I started making soap. The struggle to provide for, clothe, and educate my children made life difficult,” Chirwa said.
Chirwa has been able to support her family since she started her soap-making business, and she has also taught other local women how to do the same.
"Since I started making these soaps, I have been able to feed my children, pay for their tuition at the school, and I am also doing farming," she said.
One of the people who benefited from Chirwa's training, Rose Chapola, claimed that the training had aided her and other women in achieving financial independence.
"I would love it if more youth participated in these training as well, so that they can become independent at a young age, thereby reducing cases of mental health and suicide due to a lack of employment," Chapola continued.
Chirwa hopes that the project will eventually manufacture soap in large quantities, sell to more prestigious businesses, and provide training to orphans and people with disabilities.
In order to lessen the financial burdens these minorities bear, Chirwa added, "Our plan is to also introduce the programme to people with disabilities and orphans."