A humanitarian charity is urging people to craft reusable period pads, in solidarity with women and girls across the world facing period poverty.
The Post Your Pad campaign, by Milton Keynes-based World Vision UK, is encouraging people to make simple pads.
The reusable pads, which can then be donated or used by the maker, are based on the same products that communities in Tanzania craft for themselves.
Charity chief executive, Fola Komolafe, said she wanted people to experience « what it’s like to make a sanitary towel » to give them a greater understanding of the issue.
People joining the campaign have been asked to post pictures online as a statement of support for the 500 million people it says lack these safe period hygiene facilities.
Komolafe told the BBC she had just returned from a trip to South Sudan, where she said a packet of period pads cost about £20.
She explained that in Tanzania, west Africa, communities were forced to « make do » with their own local resources to create something « reusable » that gave them « dignity ».
She added the charity campaign was encouraging people to get together to create similar pads, because many women globally « can’t go to the store and get the branded products that sometimes we take for granted ».
If people want to take part, the charity will provide the tools and materials to make the pads and send through the same guides that communities use in Tanzania.
The pads are made from cotton and an absorbent towel-like material to line them.
The campaign, which was launched ahead of International Women’s Day last month, also highlights the issue of water necessity for sanitation and feminine hygiene.
Komolafe added that « everything starts with a conversation – stitch one [period pad] as a family and have a conversation », which she hoped would lead to action to support girls « locally, nationally or internationally ».
Period poverty is also an issue in the UK, with three in 10 girls not having access to menstrual hygiene products, according to World Vision UK.
The Milton Keynes-based period poverty charity Girl Pack has also expressed gratitude to World Vision UK for highlighting « one of the forgotten poverties ».
Girl Pack was set up in 2018 by 13-year-old Paige Pilkington to provide emergency period packs to communities across the city.
The current charity lead, Jenny Head, described World Vision UK’s campaign as « fantastic », and added: « It’s something that can be dealt with – we need more people to talk about it ».
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