Page 13 - Cornwall Issue 3_2023

INNOVATION

donations and accordingly “charity Kindergarten costs anything between other side of the sliding door of life).
handouts”. While this provides R1500 and R2 000 per month,
immense support to the women, there depending on the age of the child. However, being a realist, I also need
is never really an opportunity for them When you have more than one child know that my efforts and money will
to better their own circumstances. below school-going age, you look at make a difference. I think this is why I
Charity is a double-edged sword in approximately R4 000 a month just chose to help them - because I know
many ways, sometimes reinforcing to make sure that two of your babies that they are the backbone of families
dependency and the belief that are taken care of. Very few of these and that by helping them, their children
change is not possible. By providing an women have any support structures will also reap the benefits. I have long
opportunity for these women to earn in place, and when children get sick struggled with the question of how to
an income for themselves, however (which they often do for weeks on end actually help people in a sustainable
small, I believe we give them a part of due to low immune systems and no way; I now know that it is not an easy
their humanity back. Income equals access to proper medical care), it can or quick task. Money alone won’t do it.
independence. Exposure and new force a mom to stay home to take care
experiences bring perspective and of them – regardless of whether she I could have stepped away so many
create insight. To bring about change, can afford to do so or not. times. By now I have given more than
we need both opportunity and insight, my “biblical tenth”- both in time and
thus creating choice and responsibility. For this reason, Soap Opera provides money. Surely, I have done my part?
a viable alternative for these women: But… how do you step away from
Women marrying men to have a they can bring their babies with them, them when our being here means
“stable” life is not a new story, even because as women ourselves we know that they are learning how to make
less so in low-income areas. The what they are going through and their own candles at a fraction of the
problem arises when women marry we will provide them with support, retail price, and an affordable bum
men who are unable to fulfil this guidance, skills and a place where cream that soothes an irritated skin
role set by society. This inability to their babies are as welcome as they due to allergies. But most of all they
be a “good husband” can be due to are while they work. now have hope for a better future
a multitude of reasons. We tend to where they can also make handmade
automatically think of them as “bad Soap Opera also provides an opportunity products to earn a small income -
men”, but unfortunately it is not as to be part of a group of women who despite their lack of schooling, and
easy to explain away behaviour by recognise talents buried beneath the with the odds stacked against them.
stereotyping them. Understanding responsibilities of being a parent, a
behaviour means acknowledging wife, a battle axe, a plan-maker and a Supporting Soap Opera means being
that these men lack skills, motivation provider (with very little means). part of a collective of women who are
and support, but mostly they lack bettering the lives of other women,
the ability to acknowledge that they On Monday mornings, women (single/ even if only on a small scale. We make
are struggling and that they need married/ in relationships) meet to a difference by supporting their work
help. That is why Eleos endeavours to become the divas of Soap Opera. They initiative, their willingness to work
assist the women and children in an do what they do best – make bath hard and by keeping alive the sliver of
attempt to break this cycle – to teach bombs, pour soap, make candles to hope they have found alive.
them that knowledge is power and by counter load shedding, test out the
asking for help, you are initiating the new bum cream formula that we are What does Soap Opera do?
possibility for change. thinking of adding to our product
range - but most of all: to do what they We fight the odds, we live the life
Many of the women in our programs have to do to keep the boat afloat. we have been born into, we breathe
left school early, got pregnant at a in hope and exhale despair and
young age and have more than three This year, as short as it has been, sometimes…we dare to dream.
children. This happens mostly as a I have seen women rope in family
desperate attempt to escape homes members to look after babies and Most of all, we learn to believe in
that did not provide their need for toddlers, I have seen them comfort ourselves. We learn to not regret
security and stability – hoping that each other after losing babies, having that we are women, we take pride
they will be able to create something marital problems and struggling to in our beliefs. We make bath bombs,
better. This is almost never a solution survive financially. I have seen them hand-made perfumed soap, shower
to the deeper, underlying problems take the initiative to Google how steamers from essential oils, luxury
and history tends to repeat itself. Being to best paint a unicorn bath bomb, soy candles, creams and diffusers that
a mother becomes the only purpose how to improve recipes to reduce will never grace our own rooms, but
in life for these women, keeping them “floppies”. I have seen them support will create an income. We make multi-
trapped in their circumstances, thinking friends, sisters, let go of abusive purpose “boer seep” for our own use,
that this is all they have to offer their relationships because they started to affordable shampoo and conditioner
community. Ambition, motivation and believe that maybe, just maybe, they for our families and long burning
the need to learn new skills get lost were no longer bound to stick it out paraffin wax candles to provide our
in the murkiness brought about by with abusive men just because these community with light during load
everyday life. men earned an income. shedding. We make bum cream to
sooth our babies’ bums, one thing less
A further problem when having I have seen women become human. for which to stretch the SASSA grant.
children in these circumstances is
that it binds women to care for them Being a donor and volunteer has its Soap Opera – where soap spells hope.
until they are of school-going age. own set of challenges. I want to help
The average wage for a woman with these women - I need to help them For more information, sales, and
below average schooling (sometimes because “there but for the grace of contributions, contact: Ina van
as low as Gr 7 due to circumstances) God go I”. As I interact with them, Leeuwen Soapopera@eleos.co.za
varies between R3500 and R5000. they grip me, they become me (on the WhatsApp: 076 864 6883

Cornwall View • Issue 3 2023 11