Feminine Hygiene
In many low and middle-income countries, women face significant challenges due to inadequate menstrual health resources. Without access to proper hygiene products, women resort to using materials like dirt, cow dung, or old rags, which pose serious health risks and obstacles for girls remaining in school.
Hope Global is committed to changing this reality by increasing access to safe, affordable and environmentally friendly feminine hygiene products. Our initiatives target not only women but also young girls, providing them with the necessary resources to manage their menstruation with dignity and without interruption to their daily lives, including education. We do this through two projects:
Days For Girls Partnership
In Rwanda, we’ve had the privilege of helping to establish a Days for Girls enterprise, empowering a diverse group of local leaders to produce and sell Days for Girls Kits while also providing women’s health education. Through these efforts, the women are able to contribute to four major outcomes:
- Greater access to affordable and environmentally friendly period products
- Decreased shame around puberty and menstruation
- Improved access to income generating activities and skills
- Increased advocating for menstrual health
Social Enterprise
In 2024 we are launching a social enterprise in the heart of Mumbai’s red-light district, focussing on empowering marginalised women through sustainable employment. Our pilot project involves establishing a pad manufacturing unit that employs slum women and sex workers, providing them safe employment and an alternate source of income. These women will produce high-quality sanitary pads, which will be sold within their community at a price just above cost, ensuring that their health and hygiene is accessible and affordable.
In addition to manufacturing, we will employ these women as door-to-door sales representatives, further empowering them with skills and income opportunities. Our aim is to create a holistic system that benefits these women by addressing both their economic and health needs. If successful, we plan to replicate this model in other urban areas across India, expanding its impact and reaching more communities in need.
