KaribuPads

Our mission is to combat period poverty, to break the taboo topic of menstruation within Tanzania, and to empower women by providing safe and reusable menstrual products and knowledge through awareness raising sessions.

DONATE NOW

The faces behind the project

We are Natalie from Austria and Aurélie from Switzerland, and our paths crossed in Tanzania back in April 2022.

At that time, Aurélie was immersed in an exchange semester at a university in Iringa town, while Natalie was actively engaged with a local NGO in the same region.

Menstrual poverty is not a new issue in Tanzania, and that’s why Natalie and the NGO had already started designing reusable sanitary kits a few years ago. Aurélie also became aware of these challenges while sharing thoughts and ideas with various people. That’s how we decided to combine our skills and to launch the KaribuPads project to actively address this issue.

However, this project would not have been possible without our exceptional team - a big ASANTE SANA to all people involved!

OUR TEAM →

Context

In Tanzania, a significant number of girls and women face challenges affording monthly sanitary products, leading them to resort to alternatives such as old clothes, cloth scraps, or leaves during their menstrual cycles.

This predicament has wide-ranging repercussions:

Education Access: Approximately 48% of young women in Tanzania are unable to attend school during their menstrual periods, causing them to miss out on roughly 25% of their total education. This significantly impacts their academic performance and, consequently, their post-graduation employment prospects.

Health Concerns: The use of makeshift "hygiene materials" and the lack of proper sanitation facilities increase the risk of vaginal infections, mental health issues and other health issues among these women.

Economic Implications: Education plays a pivotal role in a country's economic growth. When roughly half of the population has restricted access to education due to menstrual poverty, it hinders overall economic development.

Environmental Impact: Inadequate prevention, education, and sanitation contribute to the improper disposal of menstrual waste. Shockingly, UNICEF reports that 63% of school toilets lack bins for sanitary pad and tampon disposal. Consequently, girls often discard their pads in toilets or in natural surroundings, exacerbating pollution and deteriorating sanitation infrastructure.

Our initiative

Thanks to the generous contributions of our donors, we can provide vocational tailoring students, primarily young women aged 16 to 26, with essential skills for their futures.

They learn how to manufacture reusable pads, including material calculation, efficient production planning, and general sewing techniques. Moreover, they receive training in basic entrepreneurship. Under the guidance of their instructors, they craft reusable cotton pads, which are then distributed to young girls aged 12 to 25 living in challenging conditions. These girls and young women are selected by members of their communities to ensure that our assistance reaches those who need it the most.

The distribution of these reusable pads is accompanied by comprehensive workshops covering topics such as menstruation, hygiene, sexually transmitted diseases, and contraception.

Each participant receives a sanitary kit containing 4 to 6 reusable pads during the workshop and is provided with a contact person for any questions or uncertainties. To ensure effectiveness and utilization, an evaluation is conducted after 6 to 12 months.

We got all the answers to your most asked questions

"Karibu" means "welcome" in Swahili, the national language of Tanzania. The word “Pads” refers to safe sanitary menstrual products. We believe that no one should be affected by period poverty or any vaginal infections due to the lack of financial resources. Therefore, we welcome all people to receive safe, clean, and sustainable menstrual products.
Aurélie Monnier, 24, from Switzerland, holds a Bachelor's degree in economics and has traveled extensively in Africa and Asia. She enjoys working in intercultural environments, and this project was born during a semester abroad in Tanzania as part of her studies. She is primarily responsible for external relations with donors and fundraising.
Natalie Fink, 28, originally from Austria, has been working with the NGO “Rural Development Organization (RDO)” since 2016, which supports rural communities through water supply projects, a unique Home-Based Orphans Support Program, and Vocational Training Centers. Natalie is a social pedagogue and is the project manager in Tanzania for KaribuPads. She is primarily responsible for on-site operations and coordination. By working closely with rural communities, she has become aware that girls and young women suffer greatly from period poverty.
Period poverty refers to the lack of access to safe, affordable, and adequate menstrual hygiene products, but also to the lack of education, facilities and disposable means related to menstruation. In Tanzania, many women and girls lack access to these products and are therefore forced to use makeshift materials such as rags, newspapers, or plastic bags to manage their menstruation. This can cause infections, irritations, and other health problems. Menstrual poverty can also have economic and social consequences, such as a lack of participation in school or work due to the shame and embarrassment associated with menstruation. Women and girls in Tanzania are particularly vulnerable to menstrual poverty due to cultural stigma, poverty, and inaccessibility of menstrual hygiene products.
The KaribuPads sanitary pads are manufactured by RDO and produced by RDO vocational training center students under the supervision of their supervisors. This provides them with the opportunity to gain experience in a safe space under the guidance of experts. As most of them come from difficult backgrounds, we also support them by providing accommodation and food.
The outer layers of the pads are made of pure cotton, which was grown and processed within Tanzania. There is a layer of rain cotton inside to prevent blood from leaking out. Each kit includes four reusable menstrual pads, two waterproof transport bags, and a pouch.
The lifespan of our reusable cotton menstrual pads is approximately two years with proper use and care.
Not all individuals living in rural areas of Tanzania have access to safe and clean drinking water. However, we ensure that the villages where we distribute the pads already have access to clean water.
We do not sell our sanitary pads within our program, as we distribute them for free to young women from rural backgrounds in the Iringa Region of Tanzania. However, if you are an NGO or wish to purchase pads to distribute to your beneficiaries, please contact us and we will connect you with RDO, which produces them.
Our main activities consist of producing and distributing reusable cotton menstrual pads to young women from rural backgrounds in the Iringa Region of Tanzania. We also organize menstrual hygiene awareness sessions to raise awareness about menstrual health and the menstrual cycle in general, assisting young women in better understanding their bodies.
Our local partner NGO, "Rural Development Organization", manages the distribution of our menstrual kits. Young women are invited to a half-day interactive session, facilitated by a local social worker, where they can learn about the menstrual cycle, different methods of using menstrual pads, and have the opportunity to ask their questions anonymously.
Our operations primarily take place in villages within the Iringa Region of Tanzania.
In order to reach more girls and create greater awareness about menstruation in general, we appreciate your support by:
Making a donation directly on our website by clicking here.
Sharing our project or posting about us on social media.
Providing us with ideas or feedback by clicking here.
Offering your skills and knowledge by clicking here. We are open to any ideas and proposals for collaborations.
Thank you for supporting our cause!
We offer different payment options for your convenience. Please click here to see all options.
A donation of 10 EUR/CHF/USD can support one young woman living in a rural area of Iringa Region, Tanzania. Your donation helps us to distribute a sanitary kit consisting of 4 reusable menstrual pads, 2 waterproof transport bags, and a pouch. Additionally, the young woman will participate in a menstrual hygiene awareness session. We place a high value on transparency and guarantee that your donation will be used responsibly and effectively. Thank you for your generous support!
Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law in Switzerland.
To inquire about volunteering with us, please contact us and indicate your area of expertise, availability, and motivation for working with us. Please note that due to limited capacity, we are selective in choosing volunteers.