Disclaimer: this is a blog about periods, tampons and other fun stuff!
(I almost feel awkward thinking about any males that might decide to read this)
I’ve been told by a few people so far to bring “sanitary napkins” with me to Kenya when I travel as the selection there will be limited and difficult to find. This was a bit of a let down as this then becomes one more thing taking up space in my ‘small enough as it is’ bag. I just figured I’d have to suck it up and deal with it, it’s a necessity right?
Never once did I think to consider… what do girls in Kenya use?
My mind went absolutely blank when this thought developed. If females living in the slums of Nairobi are unable to even buy enough food to survive, how on earth would they be able to afford such simple things we take for granted like pads and tampons?
The coordinator of Education for Life (EFL) in Kariobanji, George recently sent an email to myself and the 3 other Beyond Borders students traveling to Kenya with information regarding things needed at the organization. Sports equipment, musical instruments and… underwear and sanitary napkins!
After researching this further I discovered that adolescent girls in developing countries miss up to 50 days of school each year because their families can't afford to buy them sanitary pads. I assume this would have a significant economic and educational impact on the millions of women unable to attend school because of this.
However, along with this great problem, come many viable suggestions and solutions. In various parts of Africa, Asia and Central America, local organic materials are being used to make inexpensive environmentally friendly sanitary pads to sell locally. Women are able to create their own businesses and earn money through the production of this well-needed product. In many cases, the fibers from Banana stems, which are typically easily accessible, are used as the main production ingredient.
Another suggestion that a past Beyond Borders student has recommended is to sew pads with fabric so that they can be reused. With a print out of the pattern, we will be able to bring samples to Kenya with us and hopefully start up a program to create reusable pads. A great thing about these is that after you’re finished with them they can easily be composted and used for fertilizer.
http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~obsidian/clothpads/clothpads.html
It’s amazing how even across the world, women still deal with the same problems and situations.
I Read it! And it wasn't that bad, but sadly, it was a little awkward reading the emails back and fourth but it shouldn't be as it is a natural part of life.
ReplyDeleteOn a light note, it was great seeing you today. I really loved it, I wish it could have been longer but alas we will have all summer together.
To your blog, it is quite remarkable the work that goes into something like sanitation pads something women take hardly any time to think about in our neck of the woods. It baffles me why we even need to talk about sustainability with a commodity such as sanitation pads but we are faced with those problems and will hear those challenges when we are in Nairobi.
-Sebastien :)
I read it also!
ReplyDeleteMaybe men just have an odd curiosity about this stuff.
I remember watching commercials on TV for an organization that tried to bring pads to communities like the one you are working in. As a male I never paid much attention to it but your blog has brought it more to my attention. It is a subject and a issue that rarely gets addressed. Maybe it is something you will get to work on or address while there or in the near future!
It was nice seeing you today
What men have odd curiosities about this stuff?? I think you are the curious one Tim.
ReplyDeleteBut it is certainly something that I have thought of in a new light today, and I never would have thought of this as a feminine problem in the developing world before our discussions today. I am glad to be informed and I will do my best to help out as I can.
Thanks for the informative blog, as always I like reading them Sam. See you soon(ish).
Hey Sam!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! I thought it was amazing that you were able to swallow your pride and write this blog! It's awesome. You really hit the nail on the head and I was looking into the DivaCup thing because I've been looking at other ways to lessen my ecological footprint and this is a great way too!
Making reusable pads is also an awesome way of getting around this. Good for you for looking into it and getting to know more about it!
Great to see you yesterday! Keep up the awesome work both with your coop and your blog!
I'll have you know, Sebastien, that women take a fair amount of time to think about sanitary pads and menstruation in general. In fact, every time I go swimming during that time of the month, I am very thankful we have the "necessary equipment."
ReplyDeleteWith all the other environmentally friendly iitiatives that are on the rise today, I am very glad that the pad/tampon this issue is being addressed as well.
Point taken Jess, Maybe I should have said that woman generally don't need to worry about having access to these products and have a wide range to choose from but this is just not the case in the rest of the world...
ReplyDeleteI love this post Sam! I also loved watching the videos about how to make pads out of banana fibers- it makes me hopeful to see the resourcefulness of women (and men) all over the world. It also made me wonder about the potential harm we do when we export our own solutions (ie. our traditional disposable pads and tampons) to a country that may already have its own innovative and creative solutions that we should be adopting. It really illustrates for me how we should be investing in local, grassroots initiatives rather than starting up our own in other countries. Thanks for a great and not awkward at all (at least in my opinion) post! :)
ReplyDelete