MAKING soap may seem simple for some, but for people with Down syndrome, it represents a journey of learning and empowerment.
In Johor, the Inclusive EcoSoap Empowerment programme by Johor Down Syndrome Association offers participants something novel while letting them develop a new skill through hands-on learning.
Association chairman Noordini Che’man said the programme involved teaching participants how to turn used cooking oil into colourful soap.
“The initiative is designed around the understanding that people with Down syndrome can develop skills through repetition and routine.
“It is aimed at equipping participants with practical skills while also generating income for the association’s future activities,” she told StarMetro of the programme which received a RM15,000 low-carbon community grant from Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP).
Noordini said the association collected used cooking oil through drives at community events and a mosque.
Since receiving the grant in July, the association has conducted soap-making workshops at its centre in Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Baru, where families from across Johor gather for monthly activities.
Noordini said the workshops generated excitement among participants who liked trying something new.
The association also has soap-making kits for groups of five to six people, which it plans to supply to schools running Special Education Integration programmes.
A tutorial video accompanies the kits to help participants follow the process through visual and audio instructions.
“We are currently in the stage of packaging design, in hopes of securing orders for wedding favours and other events,” said Noordini.
Association deputy chairman Zaimah Abdul Karim said, “The programme is beneficial to children and adults with Down syndrome because it is a sensory activity, promoting motor skills.”
She said initiatives such as EcoSoap could offer the public a better understanding of the community’s abilities and potential.
For parent Nurul Huda Md Shariff, 65, the EcoSoap programme gave her 14-year-old daughter an opportunity to learn skills that could help her become more independent.
“It also teaches parents to appreciate how everyday tasks can be challenging for their children,” she said.
