Magwegwe man starts foundation to provide reusable sanitary pads and advocate for menstrual health management
Nqobizitha Ndlovu, a man from Bulawayo, grew up seeing the struggles of many girls and women in his community. One of these struggles was the lack of access to affordable and dignified menstrual health management.
Many girls and women were forced to use unhygienic materials during their periods, or miss school or work entirely due to the cost of disposable pads.
LadyRose Foundation
Moreover, determined to make a change, Ndlovu started LadyRose Foundation, a local organization focused on producing reusable sanitary pads and advocating for menstrual health management for all girls and women.
“We wanted to create a sustainable solution to this problem,” says Ndlovu. “Our reusable pads are made of cotton, which is affordable and locally available. They can be used for a long period of time if taken care of properly, and they are comfortable and safe for women and girls to use.”
Training
LadyRose Foundation also provides training on how to make the reusable pads, empowering women and girls to take control of their own menstrual health management and even create a source of income for themselves.
“Our mission is to address the plight affecting women and girls in regards to access to menstrual health management,” says Ndlovu. “We believe that by creating sustainable solutions and empowering women and girls, we can contribute to sustainable development in our community.”
Challenges
Furthermore, despite facing funding challenges and some initial resistance from urban girls who were used to disposable pads, LadyRose Foundation has made significant progress in creating awareness and advocating for the use of reusable pads.
Additionally, they have partnered with other organizations, received support from their local council, and even made a significant impact by donating reusable pads to a local orphanage.
The Goal
“Our ultimate goal is to expand our impact and reach more women and girls in both urban and rural areas,” says Ndlovu. “We want to work with other like-minded organizations to create a movement towards menstrual health management for all.
Lastly, We believe that every girl and woman deserves access to affordable and dignified menstrual hygiene products.”
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