Inmates in Cameroon Set to “earn living with dignity” from Salesian Soap-making Initiative

“He enlisted the help of soap-making professionals to organize a comprehensive course inside the prison. The course first explains the theoretical part of making soap and then there is a practical workshop to learn by hands-on training,” SDB officials say.

They add, “Students are given notebooks to write down the proportions and how many scoops or caps were needed to make the soap. They can refer back to this when they are in the workshop.”

The Salesian Missions officials further say that in the implementation of the initiative with inmates, “the finished products are packaged in containers and sold with stickers that read, ‘Soap produced in Ebolowa Prison under the direction of Don Bosco.’”

Inmates at the Ebolowa prison “have been convicted of various crimes and live in very difficult conditions,” the September 29 report indicates, and adds in reference to the inmates, “Fr. Bartol does not judge them for their actions but rather helps them spiritually and prepares them in the hopes that they can turn their lives around.”

Making reference to a March 2018 World Food Program (WFP) report, Salesian Missions officials say that “more than 30 percent of Cameroon’s population lives below the poverty line and human development indicators remain low.”

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They explain, “Poverty is the highest in the Far North, North, Adamaoua and East regions. In northern regions, people are often affected by natural disasters and below-average harvests which contribute to a continuing cycle of poverty and hunger.”

As part of the efforts to address the high levels of poverty in Cameroon, the September 29 report indicates that “Salesian missionaries in the country provide education and social development services to poor youth so they are able to gain the training needed to find and retain long-term employment. They in turn are able to give back to their families and communities.”

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.