By partnering with Olivia Paul Designs , we are working towards providing girls in rural Zimbabwe with reusable sanitary pads to tackle period poverty and get girls in school, no matter what time of the month. Girls are missing up to 528 days of school due to a lack of sanitary provision and are vulnerable to infections due to unhygienic practices such as using newspaper, leaves and in extreme cases, cow dung, as replacements for proper sanitary wear.

We have already developed a prototype pad, and we plan to have the prototype tested and kits ready to be sent to Zimbabwe by August, however, there is a lot of work still to be done. In order to make the project as successful as possible, we want to teach local women in Zimbabwe how to sew the pads, providing them with all the materials and tools they need. After making the pads, the women can either use them or sell them, generating a small, but life changing income for the poorest of the poor.

By donating to this project, you will be providing a girl in Zimbabwe with a pack of 7 reusable pads including 3 day pads, 2 night pads and 2 panty liners, so she never has to worry about losing her education or her dignity. Once we have provided the reusable pads to all of the girls who we currently support, the project will move to training and teaching local women how to make them. Alongside this project we will be implementing menstrual and sexual health and hygiene classes to age appropriate classes, breaking the taboo of menstruation and fighting damaging myths that make girls fear menstruation.

£50 will provide 1 girl with a pack of sanitary pads, but please give what you can and help us change a life today.