Hand in Hand Soap- Changing The World One Bar of Soap At A Time…

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a heartfelt blog post with you guys so bear with me. It’s usually displayed via videos nowadays (check out my NEWEST HAITI VIDEO below!!).

I wanted you guys to understand this whole trip. It was a short one, but an amazing one! I’ll give you a recap of our days, but if you want more information here is Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3.

Before I go any further let’s talk about Courtney and Bill, the Founders of Hand In Hand Soap. They founded Hand in Hand Soap in 2011, with one simple business model/mission: Buy a Bar. Give a Bar. – easy, right? Since then they have donated 1 MILLION BARS OF SOAP TO HAITI.

Yes, 1 MILLION! – that’s a lot of bars.

I had the pleasure of traveling and meeting the Hand in Hand Team in Haiti. The purpose of the trip was to visit orphanages and educate children about the importance of hygiene while donating more soap. Hygiene is VERY IMPORTANT! (i’ll explain more below). We had also planned a celebration. We fed 2,000 children!- that’s a lot of food for a lot of kids!

This was my first time in Haiti and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had heard a lot about how amazingly friendly and kind the people of Haiti were which turned out to be extremely true. It also made me really happy to see the resilience Haitians have.

“It’s not about the cards you’re dealt, but how you play the hand.”

Let me share with you my favorite smiles and highlights from this trip…

DAY 1- Meeting Michael & James- the brothers

These boys are the true definition of millennial entrepreneurs! Michael and James are brothers and orphans. I had the pleasure of meeting them on day 1. Michael and James are 18 and 19 years-old. They currently live at My Neighbor’s Children new headquarters. The Neighbor’s Children, founded by William, created a leadership program – a program to create 300 leaders for Haiti. Michael and James are two of the founding members. There they are free to come and go as they please, heading outside the walls of the compound to attend church, school and the markets, where they buy raw goods for their jewelry making business.- Yup! A jewelry business called, Bel Vi (means beautiful life). -Shop here: Facebook link and website.

Michael and James are studious and determined to push themselves far academically. You can find more of their story here.

DAY 2- Education Day- The Importance of Hand Washing!

Day two started early! We visited a few orphanages and brought bars of soap, tennis, and soccer balls with us for donation. Before we even shared any soap we taught them about the importance of keeping clean.

Okay, guys, this is where the nerd/ passion in me comes out so listen closely…

Did you know, 5 million children worldwide die every year from water-related illnesses. Over 45% of those deaths can be prevented by handwashing alone.

1 out of every 6 kids under the age of 5 dies from diarrhea. (usually a sign of water-related illness)

Do you get it now? Do YOU understand the importance of keeping your hands clean? I’ve said this so many times before: What might be common for us, isn’t common for others in other countries. It’s one of the biggest challenges I’ve come across when traveling for impact and trying to bring clean water-filters. It’s almost counterproductive to bring clean water-filters to communities in third world countries if they aren’t using soap to keep clean from germs.

After explaining to the children the importance of keeping clean, we shared soap! It was the sweetest thing when a child picked up a bar of soap smiled, sniffed it, and said, ” Mmm!!”

DAY 3– Feeding 2,000 Children

Okay, so I know I keep saying we fed 2,000 children but I am pretty sure there was more than 2,000 that day! I’ve never seen so much food and so many children!! Hand In Hand Soap provided a full plate of food that included: rice, beans, chicken, salad, and bread. We hosted the party at Grace International Orphanage where there was plenty of space for 2,000 children.

The cooking was done by an amazing team of women who had spent over 24hrs cooking and preparing for this celebration. When we arrived and I walked into the kitchen they didn’t speak a word of English, but they smiled and gave me a big welcome hug. It felt so welcoming. The kitchen smelled so good! The Hand in Hand team and I pulled up our sleeves and started working. We literally served 2,000 children a plate of food!

After lunch and before sharing more soap, the founders of Hand In Hand Soap, Courtney and Bill (with the help of a translator) taught their final lesson on the importance of hand washing. The children actually sat there listening attentively.- it was so cute.

Haiti is a country located in the Caribbean that shares land and borders with the Dominican Republic. I’ve been to the Dominican Republic plenty of times, but I had never been to Haiti. If I am honest, I had only ever heard of all the tragedies in Haiti. I was happy to see the resilience that lives in Haiti. I was even happier to see the beautiful souls I encounter on my trip to Haiti. I plan to go back again soon, maybe next time I go I’ll do a little more exploring and continue to bring more soap! I am so grateful to be partnering of a company who is changing the world one bar of soap at a time.