Ethiopia: Reusable sanitary pads help girls break the silence around menstruation

In a small workshop in the heart of Addis Ababa, the sound of sewing machines fill the air as women turn cotton fabric into reusable sanitary pads For founder Anan Ahmed, the work is about more than making into reusable sanitary pads. an affordable alternative to disposable products. It is about restoring dignity, keeping girls in school and breaking the silence around menstruation in Ethiopia. I used to be one of those girls who have a very heavy flow. So whenever my period come, it used to stain my clothes and the desk that I used to sit on. And because of that, I don't come to school like a week or two weeks making up excuses. I completely left the fashion industry and started this by the end of almost COVID, when COVID finished up. So I said, I just want to do my part in the community. At Nigat Kokeb School in Addis Ababa, the initiative is already making a difference. For 15-year-old student Betsalot, reusable pads offer a practical solution while helping her avoid the embarrassment associated with leaks from disposable alternatives. When When we use the other one, it can leak and touch our inner clothes. It touches our clothes and then embarrassment arises. This one, first it is cloth, we can wash it and ...and reuse it second in a way that doesn't touch our clothes or inner clothes. In a country that imports all its sanitary pads, the high cost puts them beyond the reach for many women and girls. At the school, some teachers believe preparing girls before their first period is essential to preventing fear, isolation, and absenteeism. Before it comes, we pass safety cues to young children so they don't panic before seeing their period. So they don't feel they're alone or scared in experiencing this. And we ensure they don't miss school. I do the same thing with my daughter at home. When she sees her period, we celebrate it as her womanhood. We're trying to create that kind of, you know, freedom to talk about period, be it in our social media, in our community, we're raising our voice. For Hanan, every reusable pad represents an opportunity to challenge shame, improve access to menstrual hygiene, and give girls the confidence to participate fully in everyday life.