By Mariam Diallo (YES 2019-20, Mali, placed with AYUSA in Madison, WI)

In July, Mali’s YES Alumni Association decided to celebrate the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). For that, we wanted to do a meaningful activity that would benefit disabled Malians, one through which they could learn and that would help them in their daily life or future employment. Therefore, after brainstorming and talking to our relatives, Dr. Diallo Fatoumata Sacko, pharmacist, cosmetologist and the mother of a YES alumna, volunteered to share her knowledge about soap-making for the activity. We chose to do a training on how to make soap as it is a low-cost activity and there is a need for soap in Malians’ daily life (washing dishes, personal hygiene, etc.)

To do this activity, we collaborated with the Collectif des Handicapés Diplomés du Mali (Association of Graduate Disabled Persons), which has existed since 1997 to help graduate disabled persons find jobs in the public services and fight against their unemployment. We wanted these people to believe in their wonderful selves. We believe that being disabled does not make someone any less than someone else and it should not stop them from reaching their dreams. Plus, making soap could help to generate some revenues. 

This activity, conducted on July 26, 2020, gathered 45 participants, including the local YES program staff, Dr. Diallo Fatoumata Sacko and her team, 14 Alumni and 23 disabled persons, a sign language interpreter, and the management of the Collectif des Handicapés Diplomés. The activity started with speeches from the Director of the COHD who spoke about the history and objectives of their association since its creation. Then the Director of the local YES program spoke to promote the YES program, followed by the speeches of the president and the vice president of the alumni association and an introduction of Dr. Diallo Fatoumata Sacko and the cosmetic sector.

The training was conducted by Dr. Diallo Fatoumata Sacko. She divided the participants into groups of two, plus the alumni to accompany them in the process. After going through the sanitary procedure including washing hands and wearing a cooking charlotte with gloves and disposable masks, Dr. Diallo explained the quick process of making soap in practice.

Ingredients: Shea butter, Sodium hydroxide solution and palm oil

After measuring the quantity of products, mix slowly the melted shea butter and the palm oil. Finally, mix the oils with sodium hydroxide solution until it starts getting thick. Put it in the molds and let it dry. You can start using or selling your soap after three days! 

While waiting for the soap to dry, we heard a motivational speech from YES alumnus Gaoussou Diarra. Gaouussou, who is Deaf, explained that during his exchange year he accomplished a lot. He talked about his YES experience, from the selection to his stay in the U.S. and his fight against the discrimination of disabled persons. He encouraged every single person to follow their dreams. He is, for all of us, a source of inspiration.  

The second part of the activity was the theoretical part, during which Dr. Diallo gave more details and tips about the soap-making process in the case participants wished to make soap on their own at their houses for personal use or to make a business out of it.  

To celebrate the ADA, our activity aimed to promote the rights of and employment opportunities for disabled persons in Mali, with the statement: believe in yourself, we are all the same. Thanks to our activity, members of COHD learned how to make soap and acquired entrepreneurship skills, and we were also able to promote the YES program at the same time.