We’re all cut from the same cloth. Some of our needs are simple, like clean water, food and shelter. But as humans, we can’t help but yearn for more. There’s an innate desire to feel one’s life has meaning and importance. And when achieved, self-reliance can lead to a deeper sense of self-respect.

When volunteering in Peru I witnessed this need firsthand, in terms of both the people and the country as a whole. Severe flooding rocked the village, and it was difficult to see an already-fragile system that was also reliant on tourism take such a hit. I saw bad things happen to good people…people wanting to provide for their families and live a life filled with purpose.

After observing how drastically the flooding affected one of the people’s main sources of income, I began to wonder what I could do to help. Then, one night on the bus came the lightbulb moment. The Peruvian people were connected to the Earth, “Pacha,” in a way that my culture had forgotten. Plus, I’d taught hygiene and soap usage at local schools, and in handwashing clinics, some children didn’t know what a bar of soap was. I realized the need for soap and hygiene education could be met by locals, using minimal equipment and herbs & plants found in nature.

Instead of just giving, this was about empowering. This was about economic freedom and job skills. This was about providing people with the opportunity to discover their entrepreneurial spirit. And thus, Pacha Soap was born.

My wife, Abi, and I find our purpose in serving others, and we set out to help others craft a beautiful product. Pacha (rhymes with cha-cha) means “Earth” in Quechua, the language of the Peruvian people. Using ingredients from the earth and spreading love to people around the world, every purchase of Pacha you make helps fuel clean water initiatives and small-scale soap shops in developing countries.  These sustainable ventures provide much-needed water and sanitation resources to the people, while boosting the local economy within their own communities through the creation of livelihoods.

Plus, Pacha Soap is clean. This means it’s free of parabens, harsh surfactants, sulfates, propylene glycol, phthalates, petro-chemicals, dyes and anything else you may want to avoid. With scents like lavender, cinnamon, patchouli and rosewood, each bar is handcrafted, all-natural and environmentally sustainable.

So pick your favorites and enjoy. Then enjoy them a little more, knowing your purchase has global impact.

-Andrew, Co-Founder and CEO