Disposable menstruation supplies are often too expensive for families to afford, forcing many young women to use unsanitary alternatives such as old clothes or to go without sanitary pads altogether.
Learning to make reusable sanitary pads has been picked by a local organisation in an effort to help normalise menstruation for girls and women.
Amazing Zone (AZ) is a non-profit company based at Ha Mabote in Maseru. It was established in November 2018 and officially registered in February 2019.
With the support and guidance of its partner “Days for Girls International”, AZ produces reusable sanitary pads and provides education on feminine hygiene and health. Their motto is “Every Girl. Everywhere. Period.”
The dream to produce reusable pads came into being in May 2018 after the founding member was inspired by “Days for Girls” Conference that was held in Pretoria, South Africa. The dream became a reality in November 2018, when Days for Girls International sent two experts to Lesotho to train a selected team of devoted and amazing women to make these type of pads.
It is not a surprise that eight of the ten members of Amazing Zone are either parents or siblings of persons with intellectual disability, most of whom have left employment to provide 24 hour care to their family members with disability.
As Amazing Zone’s aim is to empower women and girls, it provides these caregivers with opportunity to produce pads whilst they look after their disabled children or siblings.
While it creates dignity for girls and women, Amazing Zone also enhances livelihood of its members so that they are able to take care of their families.
Amazing Zone is amazing Indeed!
They promote dignity of girls and women and destigmatize menstruation.
The pads are available in packs of different sizes for individual need or groups of girls in a school setting.
Remember these reusable pads are safe health wise, environmentally friendly and sustainable as they last for 2 to 3 years if taken good care of.
“Every Girl. Everywhere. Period.”