SOAP-MAKING WORKSHOP FOR THE ANGELS HOME
Volunteers and children having a blast of a time!
Kuala Lumpur, 19 May 2014: Ireka’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, IREKA CARES, recently conducted a soap-making activity with children from Rumah Kanak-Kanak Angels.
Our soap-making mentor for the day, Michelle Ho – founder of the KindersoapsTM, was invited to conduct a workshop for the children as part of IREKA CARES’ ENVIRONMENT themed activities for the month.
Aside from sponsoring the ingredients, Ho also demonstrated the step-by-step guidelines of making soap from scratch using natural ingredients such as palm oil, coconut oil, water, apricot kernel oil, and essential oils. The children, under the careful supervision of the IREKA CARES volunteers, had a fun time working together with one another in measuring out the quantity of the ingredients while practising safety measures while handling the necessary chemicals.
The raw soap mixture is then blended with a handheld blender or wooden spatula until it reaches a pudding-like consistency, before essential oils are added. The mixture is then left to harden for 24 hours in a mould or well-cleaned juice and milk cartons for environmental friendly purposes, before slicing them into individual soap bars. These soap bars are left to ‘cure’ in a cool and dry place for 30 days before they are good for use.
Leveraging on Ireka’s expertise in construction and property development, IREKA CARES also helped the Home with its surroundings by carrying out minor reconditioning, repairing and refurbishment works by two of its subsidiaries, Ireka Engineering & Construction Sdn Bhd and Ireka Development Management Sdn Bhd. Most recently, a badminton court was built within the Home’s compound for the enjoyment of the children.
Group Deputy Managing Director and the company’s CSR Steering Committee Chairman, Datuk F.K. Lai said: “IREKA CARES programme has come a long way since we first started in July 2010, and we aspire to create significant impact for fellow volunteers and the Homes we have adopted throughout the years aside from mere monetary contribution. It’s especially fulfilling to see the active participation and devotion by fellow Irekians who share their love, care and experience. To us, this outcome is beyond measure”.
Since its inception in August 2010, IREKA CARES volunteers have been initiating purposeful monthly activities for various adopted charitable homes. These weekend activities, all centre around different yearly themes, provide opportunities for the children to have fun and learn skills that will equip themselves when they leave the homes.
The Home was set up in 2004 to provide shelter to underprivileged or abandoned children, between 5 to 16 years old. This is the second time that IREKA CARES has adopted Rumah Kanak-Kanak Angels, and in previous years, the programme had adopted Lighthouse Children’s Home (Year 1), Rumah Hope (Year 2) and Rumah Kanak-Kanak Angels (Year 3), with yearly themes namely Community, Arts, Recreation, Environment and Sports which make up the CARES acronym.
Founded in 2008, KindersoapTM sells handmade bath and body products specially formulated for sensitive skin. Michelle Ho embarked on a soap-making career after her then newly born daughter developed eczema. Unwilling to use the same punishing steroids treatment that Ho endured, she decided on making chemical and additive free soap for her daughter using all-natural ingredients that would help troubled skin. KindersoapTM outlet is available at Jaya One.
Michelle Ho (in yellow top) from KindersoapTM explaining in detail the step-by-step to fellow IREKA CARES volunteers and Rumah Kanak-Kanak Angels’ children
Fang Ai Choo (in white top) helping the children in measuring required ingredients for soap making workshop
Tin Sook Fun (left) working together with Mimi (right) in preparing the soap mixture.
Soap mixture left to set and harden in milk and juice cartons overnight.
BEFORE
AFTER
Before (top) and after (bottom) of the minor reconditioning, repairing and refurbishing works of the pavement and building a badminton court within the Home’s compound.