In rural Uganda, cuts to USAID and foreign aid have reduced access to menstrual health supplies, putting adolescent girls at risk of missing school. This project will establish a community-led reusable sanitary pad initiative serving 500 vulnerable adolescents annually. We will train local women to produce affordable reusable pads, distribute them to girls in need, and sell to able households to sustain operations. The project promotes dignity, school retention, and community resilience.
Challenge What is the problem or need? Foreign aid reductions in Uganda have disrupted menstrual health programs, leaving rural girls without sanitary supplies. Many miss up to 5 school days monthly due to lack of pads, increasing dropout risk, early marriage, and low academic performance. Poverty and stigma worsen the crisis. Without affordable menstrual products, 500 adolescents in our target communities face compromised dignity, poor attendance, and limited educational opportunity.
The organization will mobilize community leaders and women's groups to establish a reusable pad production unit. Fifty women will be trained in pad design, hygiene standards, and small business skills. The team will produce and distribute free reusable pads to 500 vulnerable adolescents yearly. Pads will also be sold at subsidized prices to able families to generate income for sustainability. Menstrual health education sessions will accompany distributions.
Over three years, 1,500 adolescents will consistently access reusable sanitary pads, increasing school retention and completion rates. The community production model will evolve into a social enterprise managed locally, reducing dependence on foreign aid. Women producers will earn stable income, improving household welfare. The project will create a replicable model for menstrual health and education resilience in rural Uganda.
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