NamPads focuses on the production & distribution of reusable sanitary pads. The project is initiated to support young women in Namibia with a product that would not only be hygienic but also very affordable. Furthermore, it focuses on bringing financial independence to the women& to dismantle menstruation stigma by holding menstrual sensitisation training in communities & bringing awareness of the challenges many women face during their period without access to appropriate and hygienic products.
The onset of the period unfortunately poses a big challenge for many girls & women in Namibia, who usually have insufficient access to appropiate hygiene products for financial reasons.Therefore, they usually resort to inadequate and potentially dangerous means to control their periods, such as pieces of a mattress, scraps of newspaper etc. In addition,the lack of sufficient knowledge & access to appropriate menstrual hygiene causes some girls to attend school irregularly or drop out altogether.
1.The girls will be enabled keep their focus on their education, as they will no longer have to stay away from school due to lack of appropriate products or shame. 2.The girls& women are helped to develop a better understanding of their bodies&to feel more comfortable, while their (male)family members also show more understanding & thus support. 3.We support young women by teaching them a skill as seamstresses that enables them to earn a salary for themselves&their families.Financial independ.
1.It will help boost the local economy by sourcing our materials exclusively locally and employing local seamstresses. Such a stimulus is incredibly important especially during the Corona crisis and the economic recession in Namibia. 2. By using reusable products, plastic waste production is curbed and pollution is reduced where there is no infrastructure for waste disposal. We also try to use only ecologically sustainable materials.
