A new small soap factory in Burre, West Ethiopia

The soap factory in Burre is not completely new, but now the women are back in business. In all counties of Oromia, women have been trained in soap production in recent years. Things went very well in Burre, the soap was sold on the market and found great decrease. So far all good.

But as in almost all counties, the supply of caustic soda by the government faltered. Caustic soda is sold only in the capital on the great Merkato, mostly anyway, should read, whenever they exist. The capital is 670 km away from Burre, so not around the corner. Presumably none of the soap boilers is so far about the next town Mettu, out. And how should a woman in the countryside find her way on the great Merkato, where everyone has heard of scammers and thieves on the Merkato? Thus ended the soap production in Burre ... in almost all counties.

Now comes the Podo e.V.. into the game. The prerequisite for our work in Burre was from the very beginning: Not without state cooperation! Dinkinesh initially brought the soap she cooked from Mettu, until someone from the county remembered: We ourselves have women, who can do that. There was a meeting with them and the deal, that they take care of the location and purchases themselves. Podo e.V. makes an introduction to the production of Podo soap, Start-up financing and the promise to always supply them with caustic soda.

In the photo you can see the women. They sell their soap at our podo groups in the village.