World Connect

Sustainable Menstrual Hygiene Management Enterprise

Year: 2018

Country: Malawi

Project Status: Funded

Impact Sector: Health

Project Investment: $5,031.29

Project Launch: 2-22-19

This project seeks to equip girls and members of mother groups with skills in menstrual hygiene management while also providing them with opportunities for economic empowerment. This will be achieved through production and sale of reusable sanitary pads which will be accessed for free by members of the community and sold to members of other communities. Mother group members and girl ambassadors will be equipped with skills in producing the pads using sewing machines for increased durability. They will also be trained on how they can produce school uniforms and backpacks with the same machines which can then be sold in their community and to others for income generation.

Project Update: 10-2-19

Foundation for Boys and Girls has through this project procured five sewing machines which are being used to train 9 mother group members. The members have been equipped with tailoring skills, enabling them to sew uniforms for both boys and girls, backpacks and reusable sanitary pads. 400 reusable sanitary pads have so far been produced and distributed to 200 girls from three schools in Lilongwe, Malawi. In addition, mother group members have also gained knowledge in good menstrual hygiene practices and have taught 300 students from five schools. The project will in the long run help keep girls in school and motivate them to perform well in their respective classes.

Final Report: 4-30-20

Foundation for boys and girls through the $5,031.29 Sustainable Menstrual Hygiene Management project trained 10 women mother group members in tailoring and design, 300 girls have gained skills in hand sawing of reusable pads. 800 girls from four primary and four secondary schools received reusable sanitary pads produced by the two groups. With the help of mother groups and other girls as models, The Foundation reached over 1100 girls with information on proper menstrual hygiene management. The project has greatly benefited both women and young girls as they are now able to confidently attend school while the women have acquired a new skill which they can use to generate income. The women managed to sell a sizable number of reusable pads to community members as demonstration, and now they are looking for bigger markets for the pads to sustain the project. The success of the project has attracted another organization which is coming in to train the girls that received menstrual hygiene management information in reusable pads making/sewing, ensuring sustainability and furthering of the project.