We are thrilled to learn that Derreck Kayongo, Founder of the Global Soap Project, was selected as a CNN 2011 Hero, an award that shines a spotlight on everyday people who are changing the world.
As a pro bono client of For Momentum’s, we’ve worked with Derreck since the founding of the Global Soap Project two years ago, helping him to develop and hone his partnership outreach strategies. We are all very proud of Derreck and excited that his hard work has received the recognition it deserves. Click here to learn more and see his work in action.
THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE GLOBAL SOAP PROJECT:
With 4.6 million hotel rooms in the United States, an estimated 2.6 million soap bars are discarded everyday. Yet soap is one of public health’s most simplistic solutions – put simply: proper hygiene saves lives! Handwashing with soap can reduce morbidity by 44%. Derreck, having grown up in Uganda during a tumultuous time, understands the value and importance of soap. Yet today, millions of people around the world still live in compromised environments, with limited or no access to clean water and soap.
The Global Soap Project raises awareness about the lack of sanitation and its consequences in many parts of the world. To date, the effort has delivered more than 100,000 bars of soap in nine countries. By participating in the program, hoteliers are diverting tons of waste from the landfill and bolstering environmental sustainability programs. Hotel managers, housekeepers and gu
ests become more environmentally conscious and more sensitive to the needs of vulnerable populations. Click here to see how you can support this amazing cause.
The Global Soap Project was founded as a social enterprise endeavor. Social enterprises have created a whole new way to expand the efforts and reach many nonprofit organizations in the US and around the world. In fact, working with Novartis Pharmaceuticals, another client of ours, we were able to secure Derreck a featured spot within Novartis’ annual Power of Partnership meeting. This past year, the Power of Partnering meeting focused on social enterprise.
DERRECK’S HISTORY:
Headquartered in Atlanta and incorporated in Georgia, the Global Soap Project was founded by Derreck Kayongo, a humanitarian relief expert whose own family fled Uganda and the tyranny of Idi Amin in 1979. During this tragic and despotic era, close to one million people lost their lives. Many, like Derreck, were displaced in refugee camps.
