The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) played host to a Soap Making workshop. Led by an expert soap maker, Sweet Puthan Purayil, children were given the opportunity to create their own soap with a range of colours, scents and shapes.

While providing an overview of ingredients and the safety measures involved, particularly in the handling and proper mixing of ingredients, Purayil explained: “Water is an essential component that dissolves the alkali and initiates a reaction called saponification, which converts oil and alkali into soap. The alkali, such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, provides the cleansing properties of the soap. It is important to handle them with care”.

Children were then given free rein to be creative and make their unique soap. They mixed their preferred colours and scents, and even shaped the soap into their desired form, be it a heart, a star, or anything else they could think of.

The workshop culminated with the children taking their handmade soaps home to show their friends and family. The soap making workshop for children was a memorable experience that combined learning and fun.

Taking place in Expo Centre Sharjah until May 14, the SCRF 2023 continues to offer enriching and enjoyable experiences that provide children with new skills and tangible takeaways.