Making Natural Soaps With the Visually Impaired


On November 16th, our Seesaw team volunteered in a soap-making activity with members of the visually impaired community, and it ended up being so much more meaningful than I expected. We worked with natural ingredients and molds shaped variously such as hearts and diamonds. The room smelled so warm and calming from all the essential oils we mixed in, creating a soothing environment for all of us.

While making the soaps, I had the chance to talkwith a lot of the participants – asking if it was their first time, what kinds of soaps they usually use, and which scents they liked. The conversations were simple but genuine, and they made the whole activity feel more personal. We laughed at little mistakes, shared reactions to the strong scents, and helped each other pour the mixtures into the molds. 

When the soaps were finally ready to take out, the results were honestly very pretty – smooth colorful, and very fragrant. Even though some participants couldn't see the shapes clearly, they could feel the details with their hands and were really proud of what they had made. Watching their genuine reactions made the moment even better. 

We ended the day with cheerful goodbyes and promises to meet again next time. It wasn't a complicated project, but the mix of creativity, conversation, and connection made it surprisingly meaningful. 

- Rachel Shin -

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