“I’m really passionate about skin cancer research,” he says, “whether it’s my own research or what’s happening in the field. It’s absolutely incredible to think that one day, my bar of soap will be able to make a direct impact on somebody else’s life. That’s the reason I started this all in the first place.”
During his early childhood in Ethiopia, Bekele became aware of the importance of skin protection. He saw laborers working under the scorching sun, often without any protection for their skin. His parents taught him and his sisters about the dangers of spending too much time outdoors without sunscreen or proper clothing.
“When I was younger, I didn’t think much of it, but when I came to America, I realized what a big problem the sun and ultraviolet radiation is when you’re exposed to it for a long time,” Heman recalls.
“What is one thing that is an internationally impactful idea, something that everyone can use, [regardless of] socioeconomic class?” Heman recalls thinking. “Almost everyone uses soap and water for cleaning. So soap would probably be the best option.”
Now, as he continues his research, Bekele is focused on getting his soap patented and FDA-certified. It could take at least a decade, but the high school teen remains hopeful about the life-changing development he could introduce.
“A lot of people have this mindset that everything’s been done, there’s nothing left for me to do,” Bekele says. “To anybody having that thought, [I’d say] we’ll never run out of ideas in this world of skin cancer. Just keep inventing. Keep thinking of new ways to improve our world and keep making it a better place.”
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Source: Black Enterprise
