Reusable Pads training a Sustainable Solution to Period Poverty

LadyRose Foundation has been training women and girls on how to make reusable sanitary pads. The training has been undertaken in partnership with Divine Love Humanitarian Services, a local grassroots organization that has provided training kits and resources.

According to the World Bank, 2 out of 5 girls in Zimbabwe can’t afford sanitary pads, which exposes them to higher risks of infections and causes absenteeism from school. This is a significant problem that LadyRose seeks to address.

additionally, LadyRose founder, Nqobizitha Ndlovu said that the initiative was established in 2019, after realizing that many women and girls couldn’t afford basic sanitary ware.

“Many girls in Zimbabwe drop out of school during their periods because they can’t afford sanitary pads. It’s unfair and unjust. We need to take action and empower these girls,” says LadyRose founder, Nqobizitha Ndlovu.

Reusable Pads

He added, “We were inspired by the fact that reusable sanitary pads are easy to make, and the materials used are locally available,” said the founder. “One can make a decent living by producing and selling them.”

The foundation’s reusable pads are economically friendly and can be used over a long period of time if properly taken care of. In an effort to help as many women and girls as possible, LadyRose partnered with Divine Love Humanitarian Services for a two-day training on how to make reusable pads, which was attended by participants from the local community, Bulawayo.

Furthermore, Sakhile Siwela, one of the participants in the training, expressed her gratitude for the skills she learned. “This training became so helpful to me because I have learned how to make the sanitary pads and also on personnel impact,” she said.

She added, “It has helped me in so many ways that include managing to do these pads and assist my relatives who are not in a position to afford sanitary pads. It’s a skill that can make a change in someone’s life, a skill that can also make me make a living out of it.”

Washable & Durable

To add, Siwela added that the reusable pads are washable, and their lifespan is three years. “Can you imagine if I’m to use this washable sanitary pad? I bought it for $1 and I’m going to use it for three years? How many dollars would I have saved?”

LadyRose wishes to extend their training to rural areas where most women and girls live in poverty and can’t afford sanitary ware. The community has been receptive to the foundation’s efforts, and Siwela encourages all organizations and individuals to come together in the fight against period poverty.

“If only we could teach our kids the importance of the worship of the pad,” said Siwela. “Why is it important to have that pad on your shelf? If only the schools could allow us to come and retrain our children, the community, if they could open the spaces, we come in to train people, I think and I believe we can.”

Proud of the Training

Moreover, another participant, Singenkosi Mpofu shared her gratitude and said, “It was helpful hence it opened some of my door’s l was willing to enter. I am now proud of this training because I’m about to start sewing for schools.”

The reusable pads are gaining popularity amongst the local community, and some are producing and selling them. Guardians of children from King George IV Memorial school formed groups and are producing and selling pads thanks to the LadyRose Foundation.

Lastly, LadyRose Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Zimbabwe, is fighting period poverty by providing sustainable solutions to women and girls who cannot afford basic sanitary ware. Founded in 2019, LadyRose’s goal is to raise awareness and advocate for reusable sanitary pads through public media and partnerships with like-minded organizations.