Civic organisation hosts soap-making workshop in Reiger Park
I Vote SA is a lobby group that advocates for the right to basic services in different communities across the country.
In their efforts to curb the high unemployment rate in the country, civic organisation I Vote SA held an interactive skills development workshop for residents at the Reiger Park flats.
Brandon Naicker, organisation founder of I Vote SA, said when they were driving around Reiger Park they were moved by the poor living conditions at the flats.
“Since then we have decided to make a change in this community by empowering and equipping the residents with tools to how they can go about it. We want to increase jobs in practical and creative ways,” Naicker said.
During the workshop, residents were enlightened on how to make their own bath soaps in order to make profit.
Shane Abrahams, who runs a family business called Keziahs Products, demonstrated the process of making these handmade soaps.
He said all they needed was a gas stove, or any type of stove, and the farmhouse soap base.
“You must heat the base for about four minutes then put the base into the mold to cool for a couple of minutes. The hardening process will take about two hours,” he said.
After he was finished with his presentation, the community, who showed enthusiasm throughout his demonstration, said they were ready to push this business idea.
Naicker said they are in the process of networking their business proposal to spaza shop owners in Reiger Park so they can sell the soaps to the community.
“We want to get the community to work together because when they are isolated they are taken advantage of. We are not going to improve their lives, they will do it themselves,” Naicker said.
He mentioned that he has more projects in the pipeline for the residents who live in the flats.
Sandwiches were also handed out to the community.
