Hi Mary,

I closed this task a while ago and then got the news from Eric, so I posted to a finished task too! I think we can reopen it or rather start a new task related to this. I will chat with Eric more and see what he has to say.

Good ideas about starting in the local schools. I think this is something that could start small and grow easily.

Thanks for all your help on this one!

Barb

Thanks Barb

I am sure its possible to reopen a task, you just change its status.

Mary

Hi Barb and Mary,

I just wanted to add that with the thickness of the pads.... I am not sure what sort of pads you were sent, but the ones I made had "inserts" (I trialed them, but I am not into pads). You just add more inserts on the heavier flow days to make it thicker.

Also, with the washing.... it is best to soak in cold water (at least overnight), before washing. I had a bucket with a lid and a little water in it that I would put the pads in to soak.

Melissa

Hi Melissa,

Yes the girls were given pads that had inserts and they would just have to add more inserts. However, the kids they were provided only had a set amount of inserts (I think it was 3), so for some this may not have been thick enough. Also, it could have been that they were using them improperly and not putting more inserts together to make it thicker. This is something that we will have to gather more feedback on and in the future, the girls will need more inserts and training on how to use them.

Thanks for the tips!

Barb

Hi Barb,

I'm sneaking in here as per Mary's comment - Yes, you can re-open a finished task.

Under the task title on the top of this page, click 'edit'...On the page you land, you'll see a Status field. Change the status and click Submit at the bottom. Voila.

Bye! :)

Ro

I also wonder if they could be wearing the same pad for too long, maye because they are unsure what to do with a used one while they are at school, or are reluctant to change it when others may see (don't know what toilet facilities they have at the school)?

Mart

Good points too Mary. Each girl was provided with a sash/bag to put changed ones in until they got home, but I am not sure if they did this or not. From what I recall, there were some facilities at the school, but not many and I could be mixing up schools as we visited a few that day...

We'll have to get more info on this from the girls.

Barb

Hi Ro,

Thanks for the instructions. I guess for now I will reopen this one until we decide if we should start a new, more specific task!

Barb

Mary, good points. If the girls are as self-conscious as I imagine they are, then there is every possibility that they are wearing them longer then they should be rather than changing. I guess we will have to wait until we find out more information.

Barb, I am not surprised you may be getting schools mixed up. I have read details of the itinerary you and Raul had. How you even managed to fit it all in is amazing! :O)

Dear Burb, Melisssa, Raul, Romina and all.

Greetings.
I am glad to read your contributions. I would be happy to contribute to this community too.
Buterere Community is also presenting you evaluation of recent year 2008.

We wish to be active more than we were last year in Buterere.

Hi Everyone,

At long last I have completed the compilation of information gathered from the cloth sanitary pad pilot that took place between July and December 2008. Rather than write a lengthy report that may or may not be read, I did it as a PowerPoint presentation. I wanted to get the main points across in a concise manner and have a good way to share the information. If a written report is needed, we can do that too.

I have sent it to Eric first for review and then I will post it here for comments and feedback.

Regards,

Barb

Hi Barb,

Thank you very much for putting this together in a simple way that can be easily read and understood. The girls threw words here and there and i know it required careful analysis to come up with such a coherent piece of work.

I know this will provide the much needed information to all neighbors who were interested in this task and help us formulate the way forward.

We welcome questions from this report (once it is posted) or any requests for clarification on any part of the document.

Thank You.

Eric

Hi Everyone,

Here is the report for the pilot project we held in Kabondo. It is in a PowerPoint to keep it simple, as already mentioned. Please comment and feel free to ask questions. We hope this will prove to be a valuable bit of information for future projects and to help secure funding.

Thanks,

Barb

Sanitary Pads.pdf

WOW! What a great Power Point, Barb - if you can't raise money with That report - none of us can!!Is it possible we can get some made for next summer when Jen, Esther and I travel to Uganda - for Kisozi and Wakitaka? You gave me the contact once - please email me if you would.

--
Ginger :)

Hi Ginger,

Thanks!

The contact that provide the pads was Goods 4 Girls, but the organization has been disbanded by the founder due to personal commitments and conflicting priorities. However, I think you could (fairly) easily follow the same approach she used. She contacted manufacturers like Lunapads in the US and asked them for the donation of kits. I don't have the contact info for them. She also solicited donations of pads via her website/blog. Individuals mailed the pads to her.

Alternatively - and this is where I think Kabondo should go as well, have some samples to take with you and focus on teaching women to make them. It could be a good opportunity to generate income. I can send you patterns and instructions, which are extremely simple. I even made one completely by hand needle, although a more comfortable and finished look would be achieved with a sewing machine. For a small investment (maybe through a microloan) a project could be started. All that is needed is button/snaps, 6 ounce cotton, thread, needles (or sewing machine) and the pattern. Local fabrics are available. Girls should have about 7-10 pads and about 12 liners to have enough for the duration of a menstruation cycle. Access to clean water is needed too.... They are washed and hung to dry each day. A carrying pouch will also be needed to put the used pads in, if not at home.

Hope that helps!

Barb