Women Manufacturing Biodegradable Sanitary Pads

Dear Supporter,

It's such an honor to write to you - a person who is compassionate and understands what simple necessities can mean to a young woman in poverty. A period is considered a curse when girls have to deal with the cost of pads and are traumatized by the embarrassment that comes with the uncertainty that keeps girls from attending school consistently.  

The facilities that make pads are run by marginalized women who had few choices in life out of pain and suffering. Marginalization in poverty is being relegated to a position indicating they have no importance. Just the opportunity to work in a job with dignity without the abuse that has been their way of life is life-changing for women. The girls who receive pads are able to attend school and find their way in life. All of the programs provide counseling and assistance to get them through the hard times. 

We just wired $500 USD to each location for pads which will be distributed at the shelters, clinics, and public health venues. Being 100% biodegradable, the pads can decompose in the most rudimentary sanitation conditions. 

The point of this humble request is that it honors women in their most vulnerable state. Women are sacred because they have the ability to give birth. No small feat. 

Thank you!

Shana Greene

Dear Supporter,

Being a woman means a lot of things. We like to believe that being a woman is being able to be powerful and assertive, yet kind, compassionate and vulnerable without being weak.

Whether physical, mental, or biological, it can mean something different for all woman. Biologically, for the most part, females have periods and may give birth but not always

In many countries around the world, menstruation is made to seem shameful and a burden. To dismantle the misinformation, ease of handling menstrual hygiene is incredibly empowering

And so, our purpose and goal every month is to serve as many women as possible in the regions where we work. We collect donations from our supporters and every time we reach $500USD, we wire to buy pads from our partners. They help manage manufacturing of pads who empower disenfranchised women to make biodegradable sanitary pads to sell and to disribute pads to young women who help them attend school during their time of the month.

It may seem trivia; but as a donor, I doubt you think so. In fact, it indicates that you are a kind and compassionate person. We do hope that many of you will decide to provide a monthly "give" for 2023 to enable us to to send as much as possible to serve many young women attending school with confidence.

Thank you so much for your generosity with this very humble request. .

Best Regards,

Shana

It's been a long haul. 

The history of our biodegradable sanitary pad project goes back to 2010 when speaking with Joyce Oneko in her lakeside village in Kenya. She told me that girls didn't have access to hygiene products and that some girls were prostituting themselves to buy sanitary pads. The thought horrified me but our mission is to not just fundraise for hygiene products but to create a woman's business that is sustainable.

The key to solving this problem was to make a pad that was very inexpensive and would biodegrade in a pit latrine or any rudimentary sanitation. Most importantly the women who made them needed to make a living wage. We started in India since the machinery was made in India and Urmi Basu, director of New Light and I were partners, and our decision was to create a business for women in the red-light district to earn a living free of abuse. 

Twelve years later, we work with three women-run companies that are sustainable and make sanitary pads that are 100% biodegradable out of agricultural or other waste. All of the companies in India and Kenya have government approval and the products are comfortable and well-respected products. 

Most of the women who run these companies are from marginalized life situations and one company was developed by schoolgirls who developed a pad made from sugar cane waste. All companies' use machinery as opposed to making handmade cloth pads that, even after being washed, hold on to bacteria. The women and girls are proud and know their worth. 

 The funds that are donated all go to buy pads for the most vulnerable girls in school in the local communities. Those of you who do a monthly donation champion sustainability by buying from the companies and providing pads for vulnerable girls to go to school during their time of the month. As humble as a sanitary pad is, the value is intrinsic in the confidence that girls gain knowing they can be confident in school all day. 

Thank you so very much. If you would like to donate monthly, its as low as $12 a month.

Shana

Links:

• Empowering Women Period - a program of Village Volunteers

Dear Supporter,

 We are in support of women, period. It's well understood that women have to work twice as hard to get to the same stature as men and even when they do, their handicaps are rarely accounted for in their struggle for success.

Those of you who have your period, had your period when you were young, or know young women who have periods, you understand that it's a hassle no matter how convenient it might be with modern toilets and opportunities for disposal, not to mention the expense.

Helping women succeed is sometimes just helping them navigate their menstrual periods in inhospitable situations like going to school with rudimentary plumbing and inadequate opportunities for disposal. Your support buys sanitary pads from vulnerable women who are employed to make hygiene products that are 100% biodegradable. 

We know there are a lot of other ways you could spend your money, so we know you are a person with empathy and compassion understanding a microcosm in a macrocosm world that helps girls build a strong foundation of support as a woman...with no glass ceilings. 

One last thing—sharing our project with your friends and family helps us spread the word about our work and continue to grow our community of supporters like you. If you’re willing to share the story of our work with your network, we’d be incredibly grateful.

Thank you for supporting Empowering Women Period. A few of you donate monthly (a gift we treasure since it's consistent), and we often get donations from those who find us through recommendations. It's all good.

Warm regards,
Shana Greene

Links:

• Empowering Women Period website