SuS Pads, a leading charitable organisation focused on menstrual hygiene management, has been making significant strides in Nigeria by training girls from low-income households on how to create their own reusable pads. By providing workshops in schools and educating girls on menstrual hygiene management, SuS Pads is addressing the issue of period poverty that affects approximately 37 million Nigerian females.
Period poverty refers to the lack of access to sanitary products, forcing individuals to resort to unhygienic materials for menstruation, which negatively impacts their lives, studies, work, and overall well-being. Recognizing this challenge, SuS Pads aims to alleviate period poverty by equipping girls with the knowledge and skills to make their own reusable pads. Through comprehensive workshops, girls are taught menstrual hygiene management and are provided with step-by-step guidance on creating their own pads, which includes all the necessary tools, equipment, and materials.
Over the past few years, SuS Pads has made a significant impact, reaching hundreds of girls in various schools across Nigeria. Recently, the organisation has extended its efforts by including boys in their training programs to help eradicate the stigma and shame associated with menstruation. In doing so, boys gain essential knowledge about menstruation, enabling them to support and empathise with girls during their periods.
To ensure continued hygiene, SuS Pads provides each girl with a menstrual hygiene bag to store their reusable pads safely, maintaining cleanliness for future use. The reusable pads training offered by SuS Pads has proven instrumental in improving girls’ management of their periods, allowing them to experience menstruation with dignity and reduce absenteeism from school. This initiative is also fostering gender equality by enabling girls to stay in school, ultimately paving the way for a brighter future.
As an eco-friendly solution, SuS Pads promotes sustainability by offering washable and reusable pads, significantly reducing their carbon footprint. By encouraging the use of reusable pads, the organisation is contributing to a cleaner environment while also ensuring girls have access to hygienic menstrual products.
In an effort to expand their impact, SuS Pads has recently launched a SuS Pads charity eCard, allowing individuals to send online cards to their friends and family while simultaneously making a donation to help alleviate period poverty. This innovative approach combines acts of kindness with necessary financial support to continue their vital work.
For further information on SuS Pads, including details about their projects, workshops, and training, please visit their website or follow them on social media.