Empowering Women Period is a consortium of women-run businesses by disenfranchised women (some escaping human trafficking) manufacturing low-cost, biodegradable sanitary pads from agricultural waste or water hyacinth, an invasive species. Your donation buys pads from the women entrepreneurs to provide hygiene assistance to at risk girls in school. Your donation buys sanitary pads from the woman-owned companies for vulnerable girls to consistently attend school without concern of humiliation.
Many women in poor regions in the world use cloth, husks or leaves as sanitary materials during menstruation. Poor menstrual hygiene causes bacterial infections and restricts girls' ability to go to school. Nearly 23% of girls in India leave school when they start menstruating. In Asia and Africa, girls miss approx 5 days/month of school. Water hyacinth is prolific in fresh water around the world, doubles in size every 6 to 18 days, inhibits fishing, threatens access to water & biodiversity.
Four ways! 1. Your donation buys the pads for at-risk girls from women-run businesses owned & operated by vulnerable women who have no other means of income considering their stature in society. 2. Girls will have fewer barriers to attending school. 3. The absorbent for the pads is made from water hyacinth that is harvested from local freshwater sources, improving the availability of drinking water and access to fishing. 4/ Biodegradable pads can be disposed on in the most primitive sanitation.
The project is in association with New Light, India, a shelter, safe home and program that advocates against abuse, trafficking and marginalization of women. The women will earn a living and receive health insurance. Your donations will purchase pads from the women for girls in school with no means to purchase pads. In these areas, prostitution is often the only way for women to survive without support. Water hyacinth will be harvested for good and have an impact on freshwater sources.
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