Moctar Dembélé and Gérard Niyondiko, two students from Burkina Faso and Burundi studying at the Institut International de l’Eau et de l’Envirronement (2iE) in Ouagadougou, have created an intriguing antimalarial product. Their invention and business plan recently took first place and the People’s Choice Award at the Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC) hosted by the University of California Berkeley, earning $26,500 in prize money. The duo are the first non-Americans to win the competition since its inception in 1999.

Their idea: a mosquito repellant solution made from natural ingredients found in Burkina Faso, which can be added to locally produced soap. The soap (called Faso Soap) then serves as a low-cost, very accessible and unobtrusive method of malaria prevention. In the words of one of the students, as even the poorest people use soap, it requires no “change in behavior” to prevent malaria.

Faso Soap seems to be a simple, green, indigenous initiative to one of Africa’s biggest problems. What I find especially encouraging and intriguing about this story is that not only are the scientists young Africans, but they are young Africans studying at a research institute in Africa.

Hopefully Faso Soap and 2iE will receive more attention and support.

Watch the video below to see Dembélé and Niyondiko’s reception at 2iE after their victory!