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Project Iffat

Project Iffat is a social entrepreneurship initiative started in 2017 by Enactus Jesus and Mary College. The project focuses on addressing three key challenges like poor sanitation, soap waste, and economic exclusion of HIV-positive women.

Every year, hotels generate large amounts of barely used soap waste, most of which is thrown away. At the same time, millions in India still lack access to basic hygiene products, and women living with HIV/AIDS face discrimination, lack of job opportunities, and social stigma.

Project Iffat brings these issues together to create a sustainable solution. We collect used soap bars from hotels like Andaz by Hyatt, Crowne Plaza, Ramada, and The Park, and reprocess them into safe, high-quality soaps. These soaps are enriched with Vitamin E and essential oils, tested by Delhi Test House and Arbro Labs, and are available in a variety of fragrances and shapes.

The production is led by a small team of trained women living with HIV/AIDS — Durga, Mariam, Bimla, and Aruna — who are skilled in the soap-making process. They have received hands-on training at the Kraftivity Training Centre, which equips them with both technical and entrepreneurial skills.

Through this work, these women now earn a stable income and support their households independently. The project helps break the cycle of unemployment and social isolation, offering both financial stability and dignified work.

In March 2024, we launched the AfrAIDnomore Campaign on Milaap, which raised ₹2,25,656 through 586 global supporters, and hosted product stalls across Delhi University colleges to increase awareness and community participation.

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kgs of soap recycled

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peope reached over social media

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raised through crowd funding

Beyond production, Project Iffat engages in continuous awareness-building to combat the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. One of our key annual initiatives is HIV/AIDS Awareness Week, observed in December, which combines on-ground activities with digital engagement. In 2023, we organised Red Ribbon Day and collaborated with Tabeer JMC for a film screening and dialogue around misconceptions related to HIV. Our volunteers led community outreach sessions in low-income areas, focusing on safe practices, early detection, and social acceptance.

Previous years have included a Breast Cancer Awareness Seminar with Win Over Cancer (January 2023), a sanitary napkin donation drive with Pratisandhi (2022, distributing 1,500+ pads), and international collaborations with Tilburg University (Netherlands) and Be Good Tribe during Daan Utsav 2020.

  • These awareness efforts reflect our long-term commitment to breaking stigma, promoting inclusion, and supporting women not only through livelihood creation but also by improving how HIV/AIDS is understood in society. Our work has been recognised with the KPMG Business Ethics Grant, awarded to Project Iffat three times, affirming our values of integrity, impact, and social responsibility.
  • Looking ahead, we are working on expanding raw material collection through more hotel partnerships, improving production infrastructure, and training more women. With every soap bar made, Project Iffat moves closer to its goal: building a cleaner, more inclusive society, where no one is left behind due to stigma or circumstance.