Pads for Peace

'Tis the season of giving. Giving to family and friends of course, but also of giving to those in need. With so many worthwhile charities out there, I wanted to do my research and find something I felt good about donating to this holiday season.

One of my favorite sites is GreaterGood.com, where you can click daily for various causes such as breast cancer, childhood literacy, rain forest preservation and more. The site sponsors then donate to partner organizations, depending on how many clicks they get. A free way to give back; how cool is that?

The site also has a store where you can purchase a a Gift That Gives More™. One such gift is a program called Pads for Peace:

"Pads for Peace gives girls access to reusable sanitary pads. The pads are reusable, made of attractive, soft fleece and flannel, and are both made and distributed in Kenya. The girls who receive the pads are also in reproductive education and empowerment classes. Another great benefit of the program is that the women making the pads earn income by manufacturing and selling these pads to women in the community."

A one-time donation pays for a kit of cloth pads, liners and underwear that can last up to 5 years, plus detergent and other items to wash them.

Read more about Pads for Peace here, and also be sure to check out the other cool gifts that are available in the store.

SHE: Sustainable Health Enterprises

A while back, I very briefly mentioned a campaign that P&G was doing in Kenya called Protecting Futures, as well as a similar UK-based program in Zimbabwe called Dignity. Period. In a nutshell, theses are corporate campaigns in place to send disposable menstrual supplies to girls in Africa so that they're able to attend school during their periods.

I've recently learned of another program helping schoolgirls, this time in Rwanda, and I actually feel a little more comfortable getting behind this one.

SHE (Sustainable Health Enterprises) is an organization that provides microloans to Rwandan women to help them manufacture their own locally-based and eco-friendly menstrual products (they're made out of banana fibers!) I like this approach better because it's not short-term charity from a big globe-poisoning corporation, but is instead empowering women to succeed in their own local economies. And I could definitely see how this kind of commerce would strengthen networks of women in Rwanda.

Here's a pretty slick video about their she28 campaign:

Mail bag!

I've started getting email/messages about my project; you cannot imagine my excitement.

Lacey writes:

Are you aware of the Always program--Protecting Futures--that provides girls in Africa with pads "so they don't have to miss school during their periods?" I'm quite ambivalent about it, and wondered if I was justified. While I understand and agree with their goal of providing a means of educational equality, I was curious about the waste management problems this might create, and how the extra trash from this program will affect the girls' home settlements. I know that many of the US's "favorite" menstruation products have dangerous chemicals in them--would these be harmful to the local soil and water, as well as possibly for the girls they're meant to help?

I thought maybe you might know some of the specifics and/or ramifications of such a program, given your research interest. It seems to me that supplying them with Luna pads, sea sponges, Keeper Cups, or other reusable protection would make more sense both practically and ecologically... even though these approaches make exactly NO money for Always.





Then I say:

Yes, I have heard of the Always program, but only though a coupon ad I found in my parents' newspaper a few weeks ago. I don't know that much about it, but my feelings seem to be similar to yours.

I do know of a similar UK-based program called Dignity! Period. that sends disposable pads to Zimbabwe. I've read that the reason why reusable pads would be unhelpful is because of the shortage of water. I guess that makes sense. I suppose that reasoning could be extended to the keeper/divacup as well.

Like I said, I don't really know that much about the program or about life in Africa or anything, but it seems to me that African women would have their own ways of coping with their cycles rather than relying on charity from the US or UK. While I appreciate the intention of help behind Protecting Futures or Dignity! Period., I can't help but think they're imperialistic/self-righteous and more focused on the money/good publicity. It seems like just another way to show how Africa needs us to help them out, that they're incapable of handling even their own bodily functions without American/British intervention. I kind of doubt that's true.

Furthermore, when American/British women see campaigns like this, it furthers the misconception that the only two options for dealing with menstrual cycles are 1)tampons or 2)pads, when of course that's simply not true.

In any case, campaigns like this do seem to be a short-term solution. Always is sending pads to the poor little African girls. Great. But what happens when Procter & Gamble no longer wishes to sustain this program? And, like you said, what will be the environmental implications? Unfortunately, I don't know how to answer these questions either, but I'm glad that at least there are others with the same things on their minds! Sorry I can't really give you any more info, but yes, I do think your concerns are justified.


Thoughts?
P&G's press release about the program.
Comments from Red Tent Sisters