Maintaining hand hygiene is often a challenge in remote schools with limited access to soap. But at Martshala Middle Secondary School in Samdrup Jongkhar, students have come up with a creative solution, producing their own herbal soap using locally available resources to prevent skin-related diseases. The product was launched yesterday during the celebration of Global Handwashing Day in the school.
Through the UPSHIFT programme, a global youth-led innovation programme developed by UNICEF, students at the school have innovatively turned locally available Bashika tree leaves into an eco-friendly herbal soap. Bashika is a plant valued for its edible flowers and medicinal properties.
What began as a school innovation project has now evolved into a sustainable solution, promoting hygiene, entrepreneurship, and environmental responsibility among students.
The students also won the National Level Innovation Challenge in April for developing the herbal soap. The team came up with the idea in response to the high cost of soap in their community and the prevalence of skin diseases in the school. They were awarded Nu 100,000 as seed money to further develop and implement their innovations.
“We collect Bashika leaves and separate them from the trees, wash them and extract the juice, which is then mixed with a soap base to make soap,“ said Ugyen Dorji, a student, Martshala MSS, Samdrup Jongkhar.
“Some students were unable to attend school due to skin-related diseases, so we thought that making our own soap could help solve the problem,” said Jamyang Rinzin Choden, another student, Martshala MSS, Samdrup Jongkhar.
“To sustain our programme, we plan to plant as many Bashika trees as possible, which will help contribute to the environment. Villagers can also assist in collecting raw materials, earning a small income in the process,” said Nyingjey Lhatshok, also a student, Martshala MSS, Samdrup Jongkhar.
The soap is available to students at the school for Nu 20 each.
“With this soap, cases of skin-related diseases among students have also decreased compared to the past year,” said Lhacham Yeshi Tshogyel, a Student, Martshala MSS, Samdrup Jongkhar.
“Martshala is a remote area, and the town is far, so getting soap used to be a problem. Now, with soap available right here, it has become very convenient for students,” said Tshering Namgay, Student, Martshala MSS, Samdrup Jongkhar.
According to the school’s health record, about 70 per cent of the students reported skin-related problems last year due to a lack of proper soap. With soap now made in the school, Martshala Middle Secondary School is planning to supply their product to nearby boarding schools.
“We assume that other boarding schools face the same problem. We are therefore planning to provide soap to nearby schools such as Martshala Primary School, Karmaling and Phuentshothang, and gradually expand to Orong and Gomdar,” said Ngawang Dorji, Teacher, Martshala MSS, Samdrup Jongkhar.
By turning a simple idea into action, these students are staying healthy, helping their community, and showing the power of innovation.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Kipchu
