British fashion retailer Asos has come up with Kujuwa initiative, that aims to provide help and support to the young women and girls with affordable sanitary protection. There are many young females who have to miss their school or college due to lack of sanitary hygiene products.
This project is in collaboration with the SOKO Community trust, which provides people with practical skills needed to see sustainable improvements in their lives and lift themselves out of poverty.
As a part of the initiative, 900 girls will be provided with KIT (Keep It Together) bags, that has sanitary pads with removable liners, two cotton briefs, waterproof wash bags and bar of soaps. The pads have been made following extensive consultation of local women and were tested by SOKO employees. They are manufactured by Stitching academy, using the scarps of waste fabrics from ASOS ‘Made in Kenya’ garment production.
Also, six schools will be provided with hygiene and confidence training. These schools are also a part of another project ‘Wash’ which provides the under privileged schools with water tanks, toilets and hygiene education.
The production of sanitary pads are expected to become a source of income for the Stitching Academy Hub members.Also, the positive feedback of the community for the innovation will direct the business towards the small manufactures with regular orders.
Moreover, this program will also provide the young rural girls of the Kasigau region of Kenya with health education and sanitary protection.
