From Handwashing to Dishwashing | How the Kids are Doing in Kaberamaido, Uganda

It's a bit hard to believe that our non-profit vision is taking shape because it felt like yesterday when b.a.r.e. soaps was simply a vision.  However, we're excited to share with you what the team was able to do last month, the truth and the difficulties on our non-profit work, and our long-term vision.  Yes, that's a lot for one blog post!  So we'll be breaking it up into a two-part series.

For this week, we wanted to focus on what your purchases helped support during last month's trip.  Because of you, we were able to donate 12 bottles of multivitamins, 19 pairs of reading glasses, and 52 bars of scented soap. We used the leftover non-profit funds from 2013 to purchase the multivitamins, and we still have a bulk left to deploy from 2014 proceeds.  We will keep you posted as we deploy these funds in upcoming potential projects:  educational/medical funds and seeds for agriculture.   

READING GLASSES:

These were requested by Pastor Stephen, who is one of the leaders of the Kaberamaido community, due to the lack of availability of such common items.  We started off with 19 pairs in a variety of reading strengths, frames, sizes, and designs to meet various optical needs. While your proceeds typically fund items that directly impact the children of the carepoint, these glasses will help the adults of the community who need them. 

MULTIVITAMINS:

We continued our tradition of donating multivitamins to help combat malnutrition.  Multivitamins are given to the children at least once a week.  See post for more details on vitamins and its importance on childhood development, "Do vitamins really help children?".

SOAP:

Lastly, we were blown away when we realized our hand washing workshopped worked!  This past January, Clare conducted a hand washing workshop that taught the children the importance of sanitation.  Upon soap delivery, the children immediately started to wash their dishes and uniforms without instruction or direction.  And of course, they used soap to hand wash as well.  Our soaps were scented with a natural blend of insect repellant essential oils consisting of citronella, lavender, pine and cedarwood with the hope of warding off malaria-carrying mosquitoes.  We were inspired by Faso soap, check them out here, Faso Soap!

Clockwise from left: washing dishes with our soap, Miria taking the lead with washing, Jane ready to receive and dry dishes

And of course we had to post a few videos that continue to inspire us to do what we do!

Stay Stay tuned as we will candidly share about our non-profit struggles and our hope and vision!