The Movers and Shakers: The Global Soap Project

By Sarah Foy

Every year an estimated 2.4 million children die from hygiene and sanitation related issues. Yes, you read correctly. Millions of children around the world are dying because of issues that can be prevented by a bar of soap.

Now, letʼs go to America. 2.9 million bars of soap are discarded from hotel rooms in the U.S. everyday, many of which have been used only once or twice. Derek Kayongo, a CNN Hero, found a way to connect the lack and the waste to derive a solution. He calls it the Global Soap Project. He and several different volunteers collect the soap, shave off the grimy, used layer of the soap, and purify and melt it down to form fresh bars of soap. Because of the soap collected for over 900 hotels in North America, the Global Soap Project sends bars to twenty-three countries around the world.
What can you do to help? Itʼs as simple as telling the hotel your family stays in on vacations about Derek Kayongo and his mission. You can also donate or organize a fundraiser. One of the best ways to help, though, is to visit their warehouse in Atlanta, Georgia and scrape the soap yourself! To find out more details or contact Derek Kayongo about helping, visit www.globalsoap.com.