The words of an old African proverb, “if you want to go far, go together” aptly describes the Evie Grace Foundation’s latest venture in partnering with Ecopads Australia.
Who is Ecopads Australia?
Ecopads Australia is a social enterprise founded by Freeda Thong, who began her journey of sewing sustainable sanitary products in 2015. Ecopads operates with a ONE for ONE initiative, where every time a reusable pad is purchased, one is given to a woman or girl in need.
What does this mean for Evie Grace Foundation?
With the Ecopads One for One initiative, the girls that Evie Grace Foundation works with in East Africa are the direct beneficiaries of the initiative. By partnering with Evie Grace, the impact can be precisely measured and more transparent.
What are the other benefits?
Beyond providing girls with much needed sanitary products, this partnership equips them with educational training. Evie Grace and Ecopads both value menstruation education and challenge social stigmas surrounding periods. Menstruation is a pressing issue for females in developing countries due to the taboo topic and period shaming that accompanies it. These girls and women rarely receive education or the resources to manage their periods every month. Evie Grace coordinates Girl Child Mentorship days where reusable pads are distributed, and girls receive vital education about puberty, menstrual cycles, safe sex, and how to take care of their pads. Pads may be a monthly inconvenience for those in developed nations, but for females living in poverty, a menstrual product embodies freedom, safety, and dignity.
It is worth emphasising the momentous impact that these reusable pads have on the environment. Did you know that, on average, women use between 2000 to 11,000 disposable pads or tampons throughout her lifetime? Not to mention that most of these disposables take 500 to 800 years to decompose and represent the “3rd largest customer items in landfill”. Reusable pads present a solution to this environmental dilemma. In the 20th century, the convenience of the disposable pad, and desire for discretion, quickly gained traction. Gender studies expert Elizabeth Arveda Kissling noted that “we’re still selling shame along with the menstrual products.” Her statement conveys that the appeal of plastic-wrapped disposables effectively reinforces the notion that menstruation should be concealed and secretive. Reusable pads are the sustainable, affordable, and environmentally friendly alternative and ensure that women feel comfortable and dignified during their period.
Evie Grace Foundation and Ecopads Australia recognise the power in partnership and have joined forces to end period poverty globally. The innovative collaboration between a not-for-profit organisation and a social enterprise will simultaneously amplify their missions and reach exponentially.
Sources:
https://ecopadsaustralia.com/pages/about-us
https://ecopadsaustralia.com/pages/mission-values
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/09/how-tampons-pads-became-unsustainable-story-of-plastic/
Written by: Holly Sutcliffe-Carey
