Pride No Shame - Affordable sanitary pads

Since January 2023 PridenoShame focused on providing sanitary pads for those women and adolescents in Rwanda who needs them the most.

Organic, compostable, absorbent, and breathable UZIMA sanitary pads were donated to a number of Nongovernmental organisations:

5400 pads were donated to Mahama refugee Camp. Our dear partners Maison Shalom kindly helped us with delivery and distribution.

2816 pads were donated to Rwanda Women Network, organisation that supports and empower women in their women spaces all over Rwanda.

6120 pads were donated to Hero Women Ricing, organisation that works to improve living conditions of women and adolescents in Congo.

Also we donated UZIMA sanitary pads to public schools of rural areas outside the Kigali and schools next to Mahama Camp, where kids and adolescents from refugee family’s study.

7680 pads were donated to G.S Saint Aloys Gacurabwenge school in Kamonyi

12042 pads were donated to G.S. Bubazi school in Kamonyi

5340 pads were donated to G.S. Saint Bernard Murambi school in Kamonyi

3540 pads were donatedto EP Gishubi school in Kamonyi

3630 pads were donated to GS Paul Kirwa school in Kamonyi

8142 pads were donatedtoG.S Mwendo school

6000 pads were donatedtoG.S Rugaragara school inGicumbi

6260 pads were donated toG.S St Catherine congoli school in Gakenke

9294 pads were donated to E.S.P Ruli school in Gakenke

7320 pads were donated to G.S Rwahi tss school in Gakenke

7040 pads were donated to Paysannat L.E school next to Mahama Camp

13720 pads were donated to Paysannat L.B school next to Mahama Camp

9752 pads were donated to Paysannat L.C school next to Mahama Camp

13160 pads were donated to Paysannat L.D school next to Mahama Camp

12776 pads were donated to Paysannat L.A school next to Mahama Camp

Now we are working on creating awareness to use sanitary pads regularly among women and adolescents in Rwanda. Together with Rwanda Women Network FOH plans to provide Hygiene two days training to a group of women who later can become trainers and ambassadors to educate other young women and adolescents.

FOH appreciate every donation you made, dear donors. Thanks to your help all those adolescents and women don’t need to use piece of clothes while menstruating but have a proper organic, compostable sanitary pad.

Links:

• https://pridenoshame.org/
• https://friendsofhumanity.ch/

The size of the pad has been changed and added glue for good stickiness with the underwear based on the user satisfaction survey performed by our partners - Rwanda Women's Network.

What has been done:

• The production is working with the facility 80 000 pads per day.
• Local organization Rwanda Women Network has accepted to represent Friends of Humanity and UZIMA.
• Our partners Rwanda Women Network performed the user satisfaction survey.
• A sales agent got a personal plan and increasing sales and UZIMA brand awareness with different organizations and companies.
• New 100% ecological and compostable packaging has been done.
• 4000 packs of UZIMA sanitary pads were sent and delivered to Kenia.
• Testing of the interest to UZIMA sanitary pads has been started in Kenia with the help of local partners, Daughters of Kenia.

In process to be done:

• Research on sourcing of high-quality raw material in Africa is going on.
• create awareness to use sanitary pads regularly inside and outside the refugee camps with the help of Women Influencers and local partner Rwanda Women Network.

• Hire and train more women for sales.

• Distribution of 2800 packages of UZIMA sanitary pads for free is planed for January in two schools.
• Keep building strong relationships with Governmental Organizations to have access to the schools and UN Organizations to distribute sanitary pads in the refugee camps across Rwanda.

• Ensure extra funding for the acquisition of additional raw material for 2023.

Next sanitary pads production unit we plan to start in Kenia. Together with the local partner Daughters of Kenya, FOH started to test the interest. 4000 packs of UZIMA sanitary pads were delivered from Rwanda and are distributing now among women and adolescents in and out the refugee camps of Kenya.

We appreciate every amount of your contribution, dear donors. Only together we can manage such a big and meaningful project as UZIMA – the sanitary pads production for women refugee by women refugee.

The most important short-term goal now is to buy raw materials for 2023.  Please continue supporting UZIMA with your donations. It will make an impact on women education, independence, and empowerment. Any amount metters. 

Links:

• https://pridenoshame.org/
• https://friendsofhumanity.ch/
• https://rwandawomensnetwork.org/

We launched the production!

What has been done:

• The business entity on the “UZIMA” Brand was set up in following Governmental guidance.
• The production unity certification has been released from Rwanda Standard Board.
• Guido Durrer, the project leader visited Rwanda in July to foresee social conditions and official employment contracts.
• First 8 women were trained and hired to produce sanitary pads on the manufacturing facility.
• A sales agent has been trained as well and started to visit different organizations and companies.
• Production is increasing and up to end of August we have in stock 78000 packs.
• “UZIMA” sanitary pads have been advertised for one popular local radio.
• Designed and printed promotion materials.
• Guido and John (local manager) visited Eastern Province to collect information about the needs and 10 ambassadors women have been selected.

In process to be done:

• Train more women ambassadors to create awareness to use sanitary pads regularly inside the camps.
• Research on sourcing of high-quality raw material is going on.
• Finding alternative packaging solutions.
• Building strong relationships with Governmental Organizations to have access to the schools and UN Organizations to distribute sanitary pads in the refugee camps across Rwanda.
• Collaboration with Rwandan Women Network has started for future trainings on menstrual health & hygiene in the camps and schools.

With our hearts fulfilled of gratitude to every contributor we continue to develop “UZIMA”. Our aim is project to be self-sufficient from 2023. The education plan is 15000 adolescence and women to use sanitary pads regularly. To implement the ambitious plan, we need your help. The more you share, the more you receive to share.

Links:

• https://pridenoshame.org/
• https://friendsofhumanity.ch/

In a nutshell
The Uzima project, intends to bring affordable sanitary pads to women and girls living in and outside of refugee camps, in Rwanda. This project will be 100% sustainable and women led.

Beneficiaries and target groups

The primary beneficiaries are the women living in the refugee camps. Other beneficiaries include women outside the camp, who will have access to sanitary pads at affordable prices, 

The target groups include:

•  approx 5000 women and adolescents trained in the use and disposal of the sanitary pads.
• 10 to 20 women who will be trained to work in the manufacturing facility.
• 10 to 20 women trained to market the sanitary pads outside the camp.
• 40 women trained to explain preventive measures and create awareness to use sanitary pads regularly in influencing others positively inside the camp and into neighbouring villages.     

The project aims to be self-sufficient from first half of 2023; 

Planned Activities: what has been done

• Set up of a production facility in Kigali, Rwanda.
• The best machinery and raw material from India were imported from there and are in the production place in Kigali in producing test samples for the market. Distribution started.
• The sanitary pads as a product, produced in Kigali, were accepted by the RSB (Rwanda Strategic board)
• The government supported the tax exemption for importing machine(s) and raw material from India.
• The production place was visited mid of April by the RSB. Green light to use the production line with some minor corrections was given. (e.g., Production Manual is needed that includes detailed security measures).
• Uzima should get the written production and sales certification latest mid of May 2022

Planned Activities: in process to be done

• Research on sourcing of raw organic material is in process. Raw material needed (in rolls) is not available in Rwanda. There are contacts in Eastern Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia to get the necessary high quality raw organic material.
• Goal is to find sanitary pads production machines within Eastern Africa, to avoid expensive transportation. 
• Ensure regular and sustainable production:

a)      Set up organisation and factory management, with help of local partners and community leaders

b)     Train 10 to 20 women of the camp in the use and maintenance.

c)      Monitoring production, ensuring that quarterly increased production target is reached within 1 year.

• Ensure sanitary pads are used and correctly disposed of:

a)      Train a group of women (“influencers”) in the camp.

b)     Raise awareness on use and disposal

• Production, Administration, Sales 

a)      Ensure formal contracting with employees needed related to the leadership of local Director (John)

b)     Informal sales training: Train women 10 to 20 women to sell pads outside the camps to allow an extra income that will be used to open another production unity in Rwanda.

Links:

• Uzima Sanitary Pads Project

Context

The warehouse where our precious sanitary pads production unit is located was grey and empty when we obtained it. For the comfort of the employees, a cleaner place to work, and a better use of the space, some modifications were necessary.

What have we done?

We made the following changes from the original large room. We create:

• two changing rooms
• one production room
• two storerooms (one for raw materials and another for finished products)
• two office rooms

Some Good News!

• The Rwandan Standard Board (RSB) has validated the Uzima sanitary pads samples that we sent in October. This great news brings us one step closer to our goal.
• The PridenoShame website, 100% dedicated to the Uzima project, is almost ready! It will be activated in January 2022.
• Uzima team was able to make the packaging internally to reduce the costs. The sweet design was done complimentary by the kind graphic artist Ana Salac by Anna Salac. You can see it on the last two pictures of this report.

What are we going to do now?

We are waiting the final RSB approval for the production unity. We are expecting this in January, and then, finally, we can start production of the sanitary pads so valuable for the improvement of health conditions of refugee women.

We look forward to sharing news about this project. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Links:

• Friends of Humanity website