OWED SOAP
One of Owed Soap's core missions is to provide microgrants to youth-led initiatives in underserved communities worldwide — funding the materials, training, and infrastructure needed to establish self-sustaining soap-making programs that bring hygiene access to the people who need it most.
Summer 2025
Summer Planning
With lots of food and chatting, Owed Soap built out its international expansion framework — This includes our 60/20/20 distribution model (60% donated to vulnerable groups, 20% sold to fund operations, 20% internal), graduated funding conditions, and monthly reporting requirements.
September 2025
Rwanda partnership signed— Fields of Hope, Nyanza District
Owed Soap signed its first international MOU with Fields of Hope, a community organization in Nyanza District, Rwanda. The agreement formalized a full chapter partnership: soap-making training, school integration, oil sourcing, and structured community distribution.
November 2025
First microgrant disbursed to Rwanda
Owed Soap sent its first international microgrant to Fields of Hope, structured across installments tied to verified milestones. Funds covered essential starter materials: safety equipment (gloves, goggles, aprons), lye, essential oils, soap molds, pH testing strips, and a thermometer.
December 2025
First soap batch produced in Rwanda
Students from Peace International School and their chemistry teacher produced 3887 bars of cold-process soap using 256 liters of recycled cooking oil collected from a local restaurant. This was the first proof that the model works on the ground — real students, real materials, real soap.
February 2026
First community distribution
About a quarter of the bars were distributed free of charge to vulnerable members of the Nyanza community — including disabled children, elderly residents, and families living in extreme poverty. Distribution was carried out in partnership with local community health workers.
Coming soon
Second international chapter — East Africa
Owed Soap is in active discussions with a second partner organization in East Africa. If signed, this would mark the beginning of a regional chapter network — with Rwanda eventually mentoring new chapters in neighboring countries.
