Student-run business helps developing countries get soap - The Panther

Health to Humanity helps people in underdeveloped countries get access to soap and make their own. Photo courtesy of John Cefalu

When senior business administration major John Cefalu went to Kenya in 2012, he saw his personality shift from self-centered to caring for individuals. He took it upon himself to create a business to help the citizens of these developing countries acquire basic needs of life.

Soon after his trip in 2013, he started a business called Health to Humanity, which sells soap and uses the profit to buy soap for people in developing countries.

His aim is to not only provide the students with soap, but to also teach them how to create their own so that they are not dependent on his company. Cefalu balances attending classes with running his business.

“I work with faculty and staff, making sure my professors are aware of the program, understanding what my priorities are and having great team members around me who help me manage my workload,” Cefalu said.

The company is unique in the fact that it is not like traditional “buy one, give one” brands like TOMS. Health to Humanity raises money from the soap revenue and helps the developing countries build sustainable micro-businesses.

The company’s efforts have resulted in employing local adults in areas where the unemployment rate reaches 40 percent. These jobs include selling excess soap in villages and keeping orphans supplied with soap at all times.

“With the help of 28 entrepreneur partners around the world, six full-time volunteers, nine board members and more than 100 volunteers, we created 12 micro-business startups in Kenya, Ghana and Uganda,” Cefalu said.

Cefalu said that Chapman helped him understand how to go about creating a successful business.

“The backend support of the basic business functions is what Chapman taught me. Business is all about the relationships you have or can create, but the supplement of education is vital in being able to sound well-versed in networking. Faculty and staff have also been the backbone to development and advice,” Cefalu said.

Health to Humanity sells soap either through a monthly subscription or by individual bars of soap. One bar costs $5.99.

“Purchasing the soap began as a way for me to make a difference, which felt amazing, but I also enjoyed the quality of the product as well. It is such an inspiring story that an individual in college can make such a difference, especially knowing he came from the same university I attend,” said Valeriya Lozovan, a freshman political science major.

Instead of just giving soap to the people in developing countries, Health to Humanity creates sustainable development of soaps in the individual communities to avoid having them become dependent on external help.

“We do not want to westernize or strip other cultures of their unique beauty, but we want to bring equality in health so that everyone has the opportunity to dream beyond meeting their essential needs, Cefalu wrote in a blog post on Health to Humanity’s website.

Cefalu will be speaking about his company at TEDx Mission Viejo on Oct. 14. Tickets are still available online at: http://ift.tt/2d0iGOn

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