Outreach and Advocacy
Dignity Kits
This project is aimed at sourcing and distributing essential menstrual resources, toiletries, and personal care products. The variety of products in these kits helps promote overall well-being, dignity, and self-care, by addressing the multifaceted needs of women affected by period poverty. We distribute these items via various channels: community centers, women’s shelters, prisons, and healthcare clinics. This allows us to reach women in diverse settings and cater to their specific needs. We leveraging existing community networks to maximize our impact and ensure that our services reach those who need them most
Period Party
Community event organized by WRI and partnering groups to provide a space for women and menstruators to celebrate menstrual health and wellness and self care.This event invites guest speakers, vendors from local women’s owned businesses, free swag, and activities, learning, and networking opportunities.
Guinea
WRI’s Guinea efforts include training and empowering community organizers to lead distribution, advocacy, and educational efforts on menstrual health. Our U.S. team provides the resources and trainings to the field team which enables them to carry out the projects within the community. WRI has made impact in the following ways in Guinea:
-
-
- Labe – Conduct distribution projects across rural clinics in the villages of Labe. These projects reach about 700 women.
- Conakry – Conduct distribution projects and menstrual health workshops across high schools (Foula Madina College), orphanages (Fondation RBB, The Bee Project/Orphanage and Rehabilitation Center Regina Maris) in the capital and major city of Guinea.
-
Uganda
WRI is in partnership with Uganda based, The Girl’s Menarche Initiative. We collaborate on various community outreach projects within Uganda and are working together to fund the construction of a community sewing center which will serve as a learning and collaborative space for women’s advancement and empowerment within that community.
Education
Menstrual Health Workshops
WRI’s Educational Task Force team is comprised of Medical Students and Medical Professionals who provide presentations on menstrual health, reproductive health, premenstrual symptoms, and helpful resources. These workshops are conducted in the language of our audience and include translators as needed.
Menstrual Curriculum and Booklet
Research & Innovation
WRI’s Research and Development (R&D) team is working to develop a 100% biodegradable pad that is composed of materials found in our regions of focus around the world. Our team has considered the issue of pollution and do not want to contribute to the increasing environmental issues in these countries, which is why our product will be 100% biodegradable. Currently, there are a few companies such as and Sakhi and Saathi that share our vision of making affordable and biodegradable pads to mitigate the global problem of the inaccessibility of sanitary pads. Our product is unique in the sense that our product is derived from locally-sourced materials. These materials are usually abundant and/or byproducts and are not a major food source in these communities.
Our Theory: Sanitary pads are made up of different layers to optimize its functionality. Any modern pad has at least three main layers: a hydrophilic layer(A), an absorbent layer(B), and a hydrophobic layer(C). Each of these layers has a specific role to play in the overall functionality of the product.
NONWOVEN COTTON
CORN HUSK FIBERS
