A Celebration of Women™

 

is elated to Celebrate the Life of one of our world’s youngest Women Taking Action for the betterment of the lives of others; working to save lives around the world. This teen started by volunteering, growing her influence from hundreds to thousands.

This future woman leader is an inspiration to our world.

 
 
 

 

WOMAN of ACTION™

 

 

Maren Johnson

 
 
 

 

Maren Johnson is a young philanthropist and health activist who is most famous for being an ambassador for the Global Soap Project, an organization that aims to recycle used soap so it can be reused by families in areas of the world that do not have access to it. Since its founding, the Global Soap Project has partnered with around one thousand hotels across North America and recycles around thirty thousand bars of soap every week, providing families in many parts of the world with soap.

 

“Anyone can be a philanthropist. The only thing that you need is the willingness and the courage to lend a helping hand in whatever need you find.” 

This statement is proven true by the story of Maren Johnson, whose efforts have turned her from a typical high school student into one of today’s young leaders. She is a senior at Watertown High School in Watertown, SD. and will attend Belmont University in Nashville, TN., this fall to pursue a medical degree.

Maren Johnson is a young philanthropist and health activist who is most famous for being an ambassador for the Global Soap Project, an organization that aims to recycle used soap so it can be reused by families in areas of the world that do not have access to it. Since its founding, the Global Soap Project has partnered with around one thousand hotels across North America and recycles around thirty thousand bars of soap every week, providing families in many parts of the world with soap.

Maren’s own journey with the Global Soap Project has been a very productive one, having collected over ten thousand pounds of soap since she started with the organization.

What is remarkable about Maren is that she joined the organization when she was only fifteen years old, but has since become a leader in promoting the organization’s goals.

Because of her extraordinary efforts in working with the Global Soap Project and active participation in what the organization is doing, Maren has received a number of awards and recognition.

She is a recipient of the AXA and the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, two of the most prestigious awards in the area of youth public service.

More recently, Maren has been included in Youth Service America’s list of the 25 Most Powerful and Influential Young People in the World, which simply shows just how much influence and inspiration she has been through her work.

While the work being done by Maren and the Global Soap Project may appear to be insignificant to some people, it is making a great impact in the lives of thousands of families in the parts of the world who do not have access to getting soap.

More than two million people in the world today die of hygiene-related sicknesses, and a great percentage of these incidents happen in areas where there is no access to soaps and other hygiene products.

A lot of people are not aware of this fact.

Because of the abundance of hygiene products in countries such as the United States, people often take these things for granted.
 
 
In a blog written by Maren, she states:

“Each day millions of people shower in a hotel room and head off to meet the day, leaving behind a lightly used bar of soap that a hotel maid generally throws in the trash. Meanwhile, somewhere in the world, a mother cradles her dying child, one of 4 million people who will die annually from intestinal diseases because of a lack of access to soap and clean water. While we take soap for granted, it is a luxury that is out-of-reach for many across the world.”

But aside from understanding the issues that many families in the world are facing, what really enabled Maren to be successful in her philanthropic work is the willingness and boldness to do it. Throughout her career as a philanthropist, Maren has spoken to literally thousands of people explaining what the Global Soap Project stands for, whether they be adults or children.

When Maren was asked what special training or skills were needed to do what she did, she simply answered:

“None, it just takes a willingness to speak in front of groups and organizational skills to keep track of who donated the soap as well as staying on top of collection efforts.”

“I’ve collected more than 4,000 pounds of used bars of soap from more than 52 hotels and have enlisted more than 200 volunteers in three states and Manitoba, Canada. The soap is shipped to the Global Soap Project headquarters in Atlanta where it is reprocessed into new bars and sent by aid agencies to medically underserved populations primarily in Haiti and Africa. I also have been named the Global Soap Project’s Youth Ambassador.”

I had to build a network of hotels by convincing management and staff that it was worthwhile to save the used soap instead of throwing it away. I also had to build a support team in other communities.

I met with hotel staff and volunteers at other high schools to explain the fact that 2.6 million bars of soap were being thrown away daily and that 4 million people were dying annually from disease that could be prevented by hand washing. Once staff and volunteers realized that collecting and storing the soap was not difficult, they engaged in the project.

I presently am working on securing regular transportation to Atlanta.

Six hotels that are part of the Watertown, SD, hospitality group agreed to help me start the project and they were used as the springboard for other hotels to get involved. Super 8 Hotels have engaged 23 of their properties in the Upper Midwest. I’ve received donations of copier paper boxes from large companies in my home town as well as storage facilities from a local automobile dealership. My local newspaper and radio stations have written stories about my project, as well as South Dakota Public Broadcasting and KELO television, the largest television station in South Dakota. The Watertown Volunteer Center named me the youth volunteer of the year, which helped draw attention to my project.

I approached the Watertown Hospitality Committee and asked to meet with them to start the project. I have volunteered to speak to high school groups in Sioux Falls, SD, and Fargo, ND, to help them engage their environmental clubs in the project. I also asked Watertown Box, a box manufacturing company, it donate boxes to provide to the hotels for collection. I have thanked these and others involved in my project by writing a thank-you letter to the editor of several newspapers. I am developing a contest for the hotel staff involved in collecting the soap to encourage more participation.

Finally, two things inspire Maren to continue her efforts in working with the Global Soap Project, founded in 2009 by Derreck Kayongo, a refugee from Uganda who made it to the United States – witnessing how people are naturally willing to help, and the satisfaction of seeing lives change for something as simple as a soap bar.

In a blog she wrote, Maren stated:

“When I first became involved, I could not imagine the natural desire people have to volunteer and help others. As Derreck Kayango has proven, it only takes one person and a good idea to start a movement. Now, when people shower in those hotel rooms and head out for the day, there’s a much better chance the soap lands in a recycling box. And somewhere in the world, a mother may be laughing with her children as they use recycled soap to wash their hands.”

Maren has studied at Girls State, a week-long summer camp held to help high school girls better understand government, while passionately and devotedly continues pursuing her career as a philanthropist. As she constantly finds new partners and ways to promote the organization’s cause, Maren believes that more and more people from the parts of the world they are helping will be helped in avoiding sicknesses caused by hygiene problems.

When Maren was asked in an interview what her top values are, she answered:

“Always keep good details about who is involved in your project and respond quickly to those who want to help, be consistent and punctual, and keep working to engage more people in your project and pay attention to who can help you solve problems.”

Maren’s life serves as an inspiration to always value the things that we have and never take anything for granted. When we live life this way, we will start to have this longing to help others. Aside from this, Maren teaches us to always be bold and courageous. When you know you are right, stand up for it. It is better to have tried and failed, than to never have tried at all.

You might’ve already heard of Maren Johnson, since she’s on Youth Service of America’s list of the top 25 most powerful and influential young people in the world.

Maren earned that distinction by creating a large network of hotels and becoming the Global Soap Project’s only student ambassador for an organization that collects partially used bars of soap from hotels and recycles them into new bars for children in need overseas.

Maren’s project – which evolved after she learned 2 facts: 1.5 million children die every year from diseases that could be prevented by soap use, while 2.6 million bars of soap are wasted in the U.S. every day – began with just 6 hotels in her South Dakota town. Two years and almost half a million delivered bars (to over 20 countries on 4 continents) later, she has over 500 volunteers collecting soap from 110 hotels!

 

Maren on Twitter @marenjjohnson

Nomination: The Xtraordinary – Maren Johnson

The Whitehouse – For the Win: Hope and Soap

Maren on Facebook

Visit the Global Soap Project’s website HERE

The Global Soap Project – Facebook

 
 

 
 
 
 

A Celebration of Women™

welcomes this young woman into our global Alumni with open arms, looking forward to celebrating her growth in the world of philanthropy.

 

 

Brava Maren!