Yesterday was an exciting day in Matara… the beginning of soap production!

Each family in Matara has been encouraged to start a business enterprise to help generate family income. We offered a class on micro-enterprise which included things like creating a business plan, considering the market for goods, recording expenses, accounting for the profits and how to evaluate success. Some families begun their first venture months ago – shoe repair, charcoal production, someone even tried to sell fish! But seven families were having a bit more difficulty coming up with an idea that they deemed worthwhile. Claude kept encouraging them to dream and not to give up on the idea of starting something new.

So at long last, these families came up with an idea… making soap! They decided to work together as a co-op. So together they researched the local need, what would be required to make the soap in Matara and estimated the potential profits. They put together a plan and requested the loan money from the CFB team – and got the loan. The families found a soap maker who was willing to teach them how to make the soaps and assist them in the early stages of production. Just before the Texas friends arrived in Matara last month, the families made their first batch of soap as a proto-type. It was a success! (We used some to wash our hands when we were there for the wedding celebration and work day!)

But yesterday they officially launched the Matara Soap Shop! The seven men were in ‘the factory’ making the soap with such excitement. David even got in on the action and helped with the cutting of the first white and blue bars of soap! Another man from the village, who has a business of his own now, was so intrigued that he had to get in on the action of helping his friends in this new endeavor. The excitement seemed to be contagious!

Epitas took special care in showering and dressing… since he would be the salesman. He donned his COF shirt and set up a table on the dirt road so many neighbors pass each day. The road gets a lot of traffic as people walk to the market, to catch a bus into town or to escort their children to school, so he thought it was a perfect place to display the freshly made soap. The first purchase was made by none other than David Shook! He bought 24 bars of soap made in Matara. WOW!

We are all convinced that this might be the best enterprise yet. The potential is huge, as they are the only community in the area making fresh soap. They are on track to pay back their loan in a mere 4 months, if sales go as projected, and then all profits go to their families. Claude is so proud of them for coming up with this idea, investigating it and now implementing it with such energy. Their personal investment in this business is one key element in making it a success… they are committed to the soap making idea that they initiated!

There is more happening in Matara these days. Many of the men are making bricks for sale in local markets…

And the women are working hard in the fields… yesterday they were tending to the cabbage recently planted. (Look familiar? Some of you helped plant these ones!)

Life is good in Matara… bricks are being made, cabbage and new businesses are growing, too! These families know that they can begin ventures and have a chance at success. They have a growing sense of confidence in their own ideas, abilities and potential. No longer dependent on hand-outs, these families know they can provide for their families and community with their own hard work. What a great gift!