Dual success for soap entrepreneur

WHAT began as a desire to help underprivileged kids in Cambodia has seen Georgie Demir, 14, and her social soap enterprise Arkoun nominated for this year’s Geelong Youth Awards.

Georgie donates 100 per cent of her soap sales to building washhouses in Cambodia through the Heads, Heart and Hands program; the award recognises and celebrates young people who have made and or currently making significant contributions within the community.

In conjunction with the nomination Ms Demir was approached by City of Greater Geelong to produce 150 soaps for delegates involved in the city’s design showcase running May 15-17.

Geelong received membership to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s Creative Cities Network (UNESCO) in the subfield of design on November 17 and is Australia’s first (and only) city of design.

The announcement acknowledges Geelong’s rich history, from its Indigenous heritage, textiles and wool production, auto design and manufacturing and surf culture to the innovations currently being made in advanced manufacturing and the provision of public art.

“Someone who works for the City of Greater Geelong bought one of Georgie’s soaps and when they were having a team meeting to think about what to give delegates she remembered the soap,” Tracey Doore (Georgie’s mother) said.

“They sent me an email and asked if Georgie would be interested and then we had to work really hard to get the soaps made in time. We had to make 150, normally we have a few soaps in stock but we didn’t have that many.

“They sent out a film crew and interviewed Georgie. They’re going to show her story at the UNESCO City of Design launch on Wednesday May 16 (yesterday).”

COGG acting director of investment and attraction Tim Ellis said Arkoun was an excellent example of clever design, and local and international sustainability.

After selling over 1,000 soaps within the first few months of Arkoun’s establishment, Georgie’s social enterprise has exceeded initial expectations.