Breaking the cycle of poverty is never easy, but stories like Sam Barroso’s show that change is possible and powerful.
For Sam, the idea behind Fun Soaps starts with a simple belief: hygiene should be more than just a basic routine. It can be something uplifting, a small but meaningful moment of care in the day.
Growing up, Sam saw how financial pressure can shape everyday choices. “We always had the essentials,” Sam reflects. “But when money is tight, it affects everything, including the kind of hygiene products you can afford.” Like many families, this often meant choosing cheaper soaps and shampoos that didn’t always feel good to use. Hygiene became something functional -something to get through- rather than something to enjoy.
That experience stayed with Sam and helped shape a new perspective. “I’ve seen both sides,” Sam says. “Now I see washing as more than just a necessity; it can be a moment of care, even a small act of joy in your day.”
That belief became the foundation for Fun Soaps, a small business with a big mission: to transform everyday hygiene into something uplifting, accessible and fun. Their colourful, fruit- and flower-shaped soaps are designed to spark joy, especially for children and families who may otherwise struggle to engage with handwashing routines.
And the impact of that approach is real. Research shows that when hygiene is made playful and engaging, behaviour changes dramatically. One study found that children were significantly more likely to wash their hands when using fun, sensory soaps than when using standard bars.
Because for many, the barrier isn’t just access, it’s experience.
Through donations to organisations like The Hygiene Bank, Sam is now helping others access products that don’t just meet basic needs but also restore dignity and comfort. “I want washing to feel good,” Sam says. “Everyone deserves that, not just the essentials, but something that lifts your day.”.
This World Hand Hygiene Day, Sam’s story is a reminder that hygiene is about more than cleanliness. It’s about dignity, wellbeing, and the small moments that help people feel human.
And sometimes, something as simple as soap can help change everything. This is why The Hygiene Bank is calling for systemic change and has launched a petition to remove the VAT on soap. For families already making impossible financial choices, this small policy change could make a meaningful difference, helping ensure that staying clean and well is never treated as a luxury. Sign the petition and help us shape a future where hygiene poverty no longer exists.
