By Tenzin Khando Kayta | Project Assistant
Since 2022, Pride No Shame has distributed more than 1.15 million affordable, organic UZIMA sanitary pads to vulnerable women and girls in Rwanda, but current production capacity no longer meets demand. Scaling up is essential not only to strengthen access across Rwanda, but also to lay the foundation for a future expansion into Central Africa.
Friends of Humanity initiated the upgrade to a fully automated production facility in Rwanda. This upgrade is designed to increase production capacity while preserving and expanding employment for refugee women. Machines will complement—not replace—the workforce, ensuring that refugee women continue to hold meaningful roles in every stage of production. Between 20–30% of sanitary pads will be distributed free to refugee women and girls, while the remainder will be sold to cover costs, making the project financially sustainable and a replicable model of a socially and economically sustainable initiative.
Key objectives for the coming years:
– Expand production capacity with fully automated technology
– Prepare regional distribution across Central Africa
– Create new jobs, prioritizing refugee women
– Increase local sourcing of raw materials to reduce ecological impact from imports from Asia and support the local economy
FOH initiated formal discussions with sanitary pad machinery manufacturers in Italy and Scandinavia to identify a model that ensures biodegradable production, low electricity consumption, high product quality, and full compliance with Rwanda Standards Board requirements. Supplier assessments are currently underway, evaluating technical specifications, production capacity, and total cost of ownership.
A major milestone of 2025 was the consolidation of our partnership with the Rucci Legacy Foundation, a trusted local partner with strong government ties and specialized in healthcare, particularly for women and mothers. Together, we aim to transform our current small-scale, mostly artisanal production facility into a fully automated site, designed to increase production while maintaining and creating employment opportunities for refugee women. This collaboration will also enable expanded access to eco-friendly UZIMA sanitary pads across Central Africa and ensure that the project remains both a model for women’s empowerment and a socially and economically sustainable initiative.
The 2025 feasibility study identified an investment of over USD 5 million to implement a new production facility. The upgraded facility is projected to reach break-even in a short period of time.
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