About the Sani-pads

We help poor girls and women around the world get reusable sani-pads.  As it has become increasingly hard to ship or take them to other countries, we help schools and other non-profit organizations in developing countries sew the pads themselves.  Kits with pads are given to those who can’t afford to pay for them. The donation of the kits to girls and women is accompanied with education about their bodies, good hygiene, and use of the pads.

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Each year millions of girls around the world miss an average of 20% of the school year after their periods start.  With no money for sanitary pads (most don’t even have enough money for adequate food) they stay isolated at home till their period is over.  Some try to use rags (if they have underpants to hold them), newspaper, leaves, anything they can find, often getting infections. 

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When girls drop out of school parents often marry them off, even if they’re only 13-14 years old or younger. Having reusable sanitary pads helps these girls stay in school, get educated, and keeps them out of early marriages. 

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When women get pads it greatly increases their mobility and quality of life during menstruation. The pads are simple but functional.  We give the organizations the patterns and sewing instructions.  The pads are sewn by local people whose sewing machines often have only the basic straight stitch.  They use whatever appropriate fabrics and materials can be bought locally. Pads are expected to last 1-2 years.

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These organizations are funded solely by donations, so they do not have the budget for the extra expense of sewing sani-pads.  We try to get funding to help them with the expenses of sewing the pads.

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Thank you for your interest in helping to change lives around the world.