For many girls living in poverty, life comes to a screeching halt when puberty is reached. Instead of going to the store to buy pads, too many girls and women resort to whatever is available for free – old clothes, leaves, mud, newspaper. To avoid leaks and stains in public, they stay home and miss school or work each month. Without resources to catch up in school, girls get further and further behind in classes, fail, get discouraged and drop out of school.
This only continues the cycle of gender inequality.
To battle this issue, we make and give reusable cloth menstrual pads to girls in rural areas of Africa. To date, we have been instrumental in giving 2496 pads to girls in Namibia, Uganda and Kenya.
Where do the pads go?
Ways you can help
Thanks to the ongoing support from GladRags, you are now able to purchase an Empower Kit containing 5 day pads (5 day holders and 10 inserts) and 1 carrying bag for $22. This Empower Kit will provide days of freedom, education, empowerment and opportunity for the girls they go to. One girl will receive one kit.
When we send pads to girls, we give 3 flannel bases, 9 flannel inserts (a total of approximately 1 yard of flannel), 1 Ziploc bag, 1 pair of underwear, and 1 cotton carrying bag. You can help provide materials by:
- donating flannel for pads from Joann Fabrics, Hancock Fabrics, Denver Fabrics, securing leftovers from local quilting stores or groups
- donating cotton for carrying bags from Joann Fabrics, Hancock Fabrics or leftovers from local quilting stores or groups
- donating PUL for waterproof barriers in our bases
- donating snaps (size 20, white, for Empower Women in Africa)
- donating twill tape for the drawstring bags
- donating underwear (women’s size XS, S, M, L)
- donating Ziploc bags
Not only do we make pads, but we accept donations of homemade pads as well. Visit the PDF instruction manuals below to learn to make your own and watch our instructional video for more step-by-step help. Then get a few friends together and start your own chapter of Empower Women in Africa. Contact us with questions or to help get you started.
Finished pads and all material donations can be sent to:
Empower Women in Africa 4340 Oak Street Wheat Ridge, CO 80033Empower Pad Manual
We are a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization as determined by the IRS, so every donation is tax deductible. Click here to view a copy of our determination letter from the IRS.
