Training Internally Displaced Single Mothers on Liquid Soap Production

Empowering Women, Strengthening Families: Building Peace Through Economic Resilience

Sustainable peace is not built through dialogue alone. For communities affected by conflict, peace also requires creating opportunities for people to rebuild their livelihoods, regain their dignity, and develop the resilience needed to navigate difficult circumstances.

Recognizing the important connection between economic resilience and peacebuilding, Smart Kids Foundation organized a capacity-building workshop on liquid soap production for conflict-affected single mothers in Buea. The initiative was implemented under the Bosch Alumni Network (BAN) “Call for Ideas 2026” Regional Collaboration for Peace and Social Cohesion Program.

The workshop brought together single mothers from the Mile 18 & Muea community for a peacebuilding dialogue, practical vocational training, entrepreneurship education, and peer connection.

CREATING SPACE FOR DIALOGUE AND HEALING...

The day began with an interactive peacebuilding session that explored the relationship between economic hardship, stress, and conflict within households and communities.

Participants reflected on practical conflict-resolution strategies, stress management, and ways of responding constructively to challenges within their families and communities. The discussion also highlighted the critical role women play in promoting peace, stability, and resilience.

For some participants, the session became an opportunity to share deeply personal experiences.

Several women spoke about the difficulties of raising children alone, providing for their families, and navigating the pressures created by the ongoing crisis without adequate assistance. Their stories demonstrated how economic vulnerability can compound the challenges already faced by families living in conflict-affected environments.

The second part of the workshop moved from dialogue to practical skills development, with participants receiving hands-on training in liquid soap production.

The practical session was facilitated by the trainer- Etakah Edia, who guided participants through the different stages of the production process. Participants learned about the safe handling of raw materials, correct formulation techniques, quality control, and good manufacturing practices.

To ensure active participation, the women were divided into two groups and given the opportunity to produce liquid soap themselves. This hands-on approach enabled participants to move beyond theory and gain practical experience and confidence in applying the skills independently.

The objective was not simply to teach a vocational skill, but to equip participants with knowledge that could potentially become a small home-based income-generating activity.

FROM PRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP...

Recognizing that technical skills alone are not enough to create sustainable livelihoods, the workshop also included an entrepreneurship session.

Participants were introduced to practical concepts such as; pricing, branding, and local marketing. The session encouraged them to think about how they could package, price, promote, and sell their products within their communities.

By combining vocational training with basic business knowledge, the workshop sought to help participants take the first steps toward transforming a newly acquired skill into a potential source of income for their households.

BUILDING SOLIDARITY BEYOND THE TRAINING..

One of the most meaningful outcomes of the workshop was the sense of solidarity that emerged among the women.

As participants shared their experiences and challenges, they recognized the importance of having a support system within their own community. At the end of the workshop, the women expressed their commitment to forming a peer-support women's group in the Mile 18 & Muea community which will be coordinated by SKiF

The proposed group will provide a platform for continued learning, collaboration, encouragement, and mutual support as the women work toward improving their livelihoods and strengthening their families.

This commitment demonstrates that the impact of the initiative extends beyond the skills learned. It has created an opportunity for women to build relationships and develop a community-based support network that can continue to grow after the training.

INVESTING IN WOMEN IS INVESTING IN PEACE..

The workshop reaffirmed the important connection between economic empowerment and peacebuilding.

For conflict-affected women, access to livelihood opportunities can provide more than an income. It can strengthen household resilience, reduce economic vulnerability, create a greater sense of agency, and enable women to contribute more actively to the wellbeing of their families and communities.

By equipping single mothers with practical vocational and entrepreneurial skills while creating spaces for dialogue and solidarity, the initiative contributes to a broader vision of communities where women are not only survivors of crisis but also active contributors to peace, resilience, and sustainable development.

The experience reminds us that peacebuilding can begin with practical investments in people's everyday lives.

When women have the skills, opportunities, and support to build sustainable livelihoods, we strengthen families, build resilient communities, and create stronger foundations for lasting peace.

You can join this movement as we plan on having more of such programs at SKiF