The students behind Palma Soap, a social enterprise based

at the University of Edinburgh, travelled to the Kasungu District in Malawi to teach women, who were previously unemployed, to make, package and sell an insect-repellent soap.

The soap is composed of all natural ingredients including olive, sunflower and neem oils. The neem oil repels mosquitoes and other insects for up to eight hours.

Each bar of soap is sold at an affordable price, which converts approximately to 25p, of which 3p (12%) is profit that the beneficiaries keep. There is only one other soap on the market at a similar price, but it does not contain insect repellent.

“Being able to tackle so many issues with such an ingenious and innovative solution is what first drew me into the group. I’ve learnt so much from this project, it’s been such a good experience.”Meghan Project Leader, Palma Soap

A small bar of soap with big impact

This project was supported by an alumni-funded Innovation Initiative Grant from

the University of Edinburgh.

www.iig.ed.ac.uk

Awarded£1,193 to fund

students’ travel costs, soap ingredients,

moulds, packaging and marketing

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