About Rose Donkoh, Business Woman

One of the people you are personally impacting through your donation to Point Hope is Rose Donkoh, a 49 year old Ghanaian single mother—she is actually raising her deceased brother’s children, Michael and Hannah.  Rose, who speaks four languages, came to Point Hope in 2010, desperate to learn a trade. She was selling school supplies and books to students, but there was a very small window of time these goods were needed and she averaged only 1 Ghana cedi (less than .50 cents) a day.  After she trained with Point Hope to make soaps (liquid and cake soap), she continued to hone her craft and now makes specialty herbal, natural soap for skincare and laundry and bathing soap, netting 600-700 Ghana cedis (abut $200) a month. Her next plan is to get a machine to brand and polish her soaps to sell at hotels and specialty locations. Rose is looking for another microloan to begin this phase—if you would like more details and want to fund that specific need, please contact Point Hope.

Here’s part of an interview with Rose:

Q: How long did you train to make soap? 

A: It was only 3 weeks, but it changed my life.

Q: Why do you say that?

A:  At least now I have the opportunity to live, to survive, and that’s what Point Hope as done for me.

Q: How do you sell your soaps?

A: I sell them from my home and I also sell them in bulk to vendors in the marketplace. Customers ask for my soap, they know it is good, clearing up rashes and skin problems.

Q: What are your future ambitions to build your business?

A: I want to buy a machine that will polish and brand my soaps. I will add fragrance as well and call it “LaRosa Herbal Soap”. That will give me a whole new market. I already have 3 sales persons who will work on commission.

Q: What is the hardest thing about your business?

A: To be firm with myself.  I build up capital and produce more soap, but I can’t eat the capital.  I buy two panties a year; I cannot just spend if I want to get ahead.

Q: What else have you learned from Point Hope?

A: Because Point Hope trained me for no charge, so I have trained others to make liquid soap for no charge. I have trained at least 8 persons.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to share about the opportunity Point Hope and our donors have made available for you?

A: Point Hope has helped so many people, over 6,000 trained, maybe? At least one particular person who has stood firm and been helped and helped herself through Point Hope has been a blessing and is thankful for the blessings God will share with Point Hope.