Students for Liberty, ECOD empower Kanthete women with reusable sanitary pad skills

The Students for Liberty Organization, in partnership with the Ebenezer Community Development Organization (ECOD), on Saturday trained 20 women from Kanthete in Mzuzu on how to make reusable sanitary pads to help address menstrual hygiene challenges.

The training targeted women aged between 18 and 35 from the Kanthete area on the outskirts of the city.

In an interview, Students for Liberty Organization Local Coordinator, Lenia Nkhoma, said the organisers deliberately selected participants within this age group so that they can become pioneers of the initiative in their communities.

“We want these women to train their fellow women. We also chose them because they are able to make independent decisions and can pass on the knowledge to their children and other women in their communities,” said Nkhoma.

She added that reusable sanitary pads promote hygiene and provide a sustainable alternative for women who struggle to access commercial sanitary products due to financial constraints.

Nkhoma further urged the participants to put the knowledge they acquired into practice and share it with others.

Acting Director for ECOD, Faston Bwanali, said the training aligns with the organisation’s thematic focus areas.

“Reusable sanitary pads are easy to produce because the materials are locally available. While we have previously conducted mental health sessions, menstrual hygiene was an area that had not yet been addressed. We believe the women trained today will cascade this knowledge to others in their communities,” said Bwanali.

One of the participants, Mphatso Mbewe, commended ECOD and Students for Liberty for the initiative, saying it will help women overcome the financial challenges associated with buying sanitary products.

“We often struggle to afford sanitary pads due to financial challenges. Learning how to make reusable pads has brought great joy to me because it will not only help me meet my personal needs but also create an opportunity to make and sell them to others,” said Mbewe.