In the heart of a rural village in Twic County, where clean water and economic opportunity are hard to come by, a young woman named Asha is transforming her community—one bar of soap at a time.
Just two years ago, Asha was a participant in one of Bishop Gassis Relief and Rescue Foundation’s (BGRRF) women’s economic empowerment programs. Like many women in her community, she had big dreams but limited access to education, income, and decision-making power.
Today, she is not only running a successful small business making and selling soap—she is also training other women and girls to do the same.
Learning to Earn—and Lead
BGRRF’s women’s skills development program equips participants with practical knowledge in hygiene, entrepreneurship, and small-scale manufacturing. Asha enrolled in a 10-week training course that covered:
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Basic hygiene and disease prevention
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Soap making techniques using affordable local materials
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Small business management
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Budgeting and savings practices
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Leadership and mentoring
“I didn’t know how soap was made,” Asha recalls. “Now, not only do I make it, I teach others—and we are earning income, keeping families clean, and preventing sickness.”
The Business That’s Changing Lives
Asha now produces over 300 bars of soap every month. She sells them at local markets and to neighboring communities at an affordable price, using the earnings to support her siblings’ school fees and help her parents maintain their home.
More importantly, she has become a trusted hygiene advocate in her village.
“When people started using the soap, we saw fewer children getting sick,” says Father Luka, a community leader. “What Asha is doing is more than business—it’s public health.”
Training Other Women
BGRRF supported Asha in setting up a women’s hygiene entrepreneurship circle—a small group of 12 women who now gather weekly to learn, produce, and sell soaps and hygiene kits together. The group works from a small shared workshop with equipment provided by the foundation.
Each woman earns money while also spreading awareness about the importance of handwashing and hygiene—critical in areas where WASH infrastructure is still developing.
“Asha is like our teacher,” says Mary, one of the group members. “She makes us believe we can succeed too.”
Empowering Women, Uplifting Communities
Asha’s story is one of many emerging from BGRRF’s women’s empowerment initiative, which has trained over 500 women in vocational skills, leadership, and business planning across Sudan and South Sudan.
These programs are rooted in our belief that when women are given the tools to succeed, entire communities benefit. Improved hygiene, better health outcomes, increased school attendance, and greater economic independence are just a few of the ripple effects we’ve witnessed.
Join the Movement
You can help more women like Asha access life-changing opportunities through skills development and economic empowerment.
