I commend your submittal of this project. In reality the scope is far reaching, beyond this region is 100 more locations with unsanitary products and facilities...I agree that it may be possible to convince a women's sanitary health product manufacturer to help fund this effort...A national company that distributes restroom trailers donated 3 toilet and shower facilities for a homeless encampment started by an associate friend of mine...I know it's not an exact situation, but there are entities out there that are willing to go above and beyond for the sake of their fellow man...thanks

i must say that i commend your effort for a giant step towards helping the girls afford a good cheap sanitary pad. of a truth many of our girls are really victims of using toilet tissues, cloths ete when menstrating and this poses a threat to their healths. our organisation centre for anti-prostitution and empowerment is an organisation that educates the girls on the ills of prostitution and creating avenues for them to be empowered to take steps to actualise their dream. please do tell us how to come in and ensure our girls here in nigeria are powerfully empowered to handle situations. and possibly be a part of the sanitary pads.

Dear Sarah:

Thank you for participating in this collaborative competition. We value the time and effort you’ve put forth and we would like to offer you feedback and some thought provoking questions from our Evaluation Team.

The idea of employing girls and women to produce sanitary pads locally is unique by both providing for income generation and addressing health problems. Plans for growth depend on the outcome of feasibility studies, but plans for financing if the initiative is found feasible are unclear. This information is critical to assessing sustainability.

Please use this input as both potential insights into your innovations, as well as constructive ideas for how to improve or grow your organization.

Warm regards,
The Changemakers Evaluation Team

Hi,

congratulations with your nomination to the finals.
This is a great project and I wish you every success with it.
I wonder if you know about famipads - sanitary napkins being made in Nairobi from banana leaves. Perhaps cooperating with that project could give you a head start.
There's a whole discussion about the menstruation problem on this web page. I am sure you will find some useful information:
http://www.nabuur.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=6898&forum=338&post_id=83455#forumpost83455

Amina

This is brilliant and so basic -- dealing with menstruation in a way that transforms not only the regular individual experience, but links up participants in a regional, creative, and productive network. The individual is empowered in her own immediate space and is also afforded opportunities socially, economically and politically in concentric outward circles. As a regionally based response that potentially disrupts the dominant global consumer trajectory, this is also very promising. The embodied nature of sport is a perfect venue for carrying this forward. Mastery of skills for peak performance, teamwork, cooperation all fit well.

I look forward to hearing about the progress of this along with the other activities of MTG!

Tunaweza!

Martha Saavedra
Center for African Studies
University of California, Berkeley
USA

Hi Steve,
Thanks for your supportive comments. I am sure that as a network of organisations we would be keen to work with others, including large Western pharmaceutical companies. I wonder if anyone has good contacts in such companies who we may be able to start dialogue with?
Sarah

You and MTG have assembled a good coalition of groups to address this problem, Sarah, and you appear to have made genuine progress already. No woman or girl should have her health, education, or ability to participate in sports placed at risk because she can't afford adequate sanitary pads.

I realize that with papyrus grass you may have arrived at a feasible local solution to the prohibitive cost of conventional sanitary pads, but I wonder if the large, Western pharmaceutical and women's health products companies might not be interested in helping finance your efforts? It seems to me that they would have a rational business interest in funding your innovative solution.

Steve Byars
Marshall School of Business
University of Southern California