Archive for category: Women and Female Empowerment

information and Stories about woman and female empowerment.

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The DESFER Project: Empowering Women in the Sahel

The DESFER Project: Empowering Women in the SahelThe Sahel is a vast semi-arid region of Africa that separates the Sahara Desert from tropical savannas. It spans 10 countries, including Niger, Mali and Senegal and is a land of both opportunities and challenges. Political insecurity and environmental issues threaten the Sahel’s potential for rapid growth. Despite these challenges, the Sahel is one of the world’s youngest regions, with women making up approximately 50% of its population. Therefore, investing in female education and vocational training could bring significant economic prosperity. Additionally, the Sahel boasts the world’s highest solar energy production capacity, presenting substantial renewable energy potential. Consequently, the creation of the DESFERS project is a promising solution to help women achieve economic prosperity and gender equality across the Sahel.

The Situation for Women across the Sahel

Dr. Farkhonda Hassan, Chair of the United Nations (U.N.) Economic Commission for Africa’s Committee on Women and Development, points out that many poverty reduction strategies fail to address the disparities in income and power between men and women. She notes that the majority of African women still lack employment opportunities in trade, industry and government. Women across the Sahel experience the harsh effects of this gender inequality. They are more vulnerable to poverty, face significant barriers in accessing land, credit and formal employment and on average, have less time for productive activities due to the burden of domestic work.

The DESFERS Project

Plan International, a global children’s charity committed to creating a fairer world, focuses on building an equal world for girls. The organization has partnered with seven other entities, including ministries and national agencies for renewables, to launch a project that empowers women through renewable energy innovations. Introduced in 2018, the “Economic and Social Development of Women through Renewable Energies in the Sahel” project (DESFERS) actively confronts and addresses the social, cultural and economic inequalities that hinder the economic prosperity of women in the Sahel.

The project started by engaging women to articulate their social and economic needs. Plan International then focused on areas across the Sahara that offered the greatest potential for social and economic impact. Recognizing the critical role of sustainable energy and gender equality in development and economic growth, the European Union has contributed a €7.6 million grant to the DESFERS project.

Initially, the project concentrated on building individual skills such as reading, writing and math and introduced concepts about renewable energies and business. Subsequently, it provided more in-depth technical training focused on solar energy, particularly promoting women-led solar power businesses. The project also offers funding and training to help women launch micro-financial products in the sustainable energy sector. Furthermore, Plan International collaborates with ‘male champions’ who engage men in the community to help shift perspectives and address entrenched gender stereotypes.

Successful Sustainable Female Empowerment

The DESFERS project represents a new opportunity for women who were historically confined to traditional small business activities with minimal financial returns. This initiative merges the sustainable energy sector, specifically solar photovoltaic energy, with female empowerment. Crucially, the project positions women as prominent leaders catalyzing change within their communities. Women now manage the installation and maintenance of much of the new technology and capitalize on the business opportunities that the renewable energy sector presents. Since its inception, the project has supported 4,500 women-owned businesses in sustainable energy and trained 7,000 female entrepreneurs. Additionally, 21,000 women have received financing and the project has greatly enhanced women’s access to renewable energy.

Female Empowerment and Poverty

U.N. Women recognizes that gender equality is a significant and powerful catalyst for reducing poverty and increasing sustainable development. Ensuring equal access to opportunities enables societies to develop healthier and fairer economies. They have commended the shift toward renewable energy that promotes female empowerment. Alliance Sahel has observed that projects with a gender focus not only accelerate growth but also reduce gender and social inequalities. This enhances the economic and social resilience of the entire population, despite various challenges. It also notes a direct intergenerational benefit: projects centered on female empowerment yield long-term results. For example, empowered women tend to invest more in their children’s education and provide them with a more balanced diet, which contributes to building a stronger workforce for the future.

Looking Forward

Overall, the DESFERS project remains a significant success for women across the Sahel. Empowering women through renewable energy not only helps eradicate poverty but also breaks down entrenched gender inequalities prevalent throughout Senegal, Niger and Mali.

– Sian Ameer-Beg

Sian is based in Durham, UK and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Action Against Period Poverty

Action Against Period PovertyA period is a natural part of any person with female anatomy’s life. It can be a constant financial burden for some since every month, a woman needs pads, tampons or other menstrual products. According to research done by PlushCare, a month’s supply of period products costs $7.30 in South Africa. While South Africa is not the most expensive, for those who experience a period but live in poverty, getting the necessary menstrual products can be difficult.

According to the United Nations (U.N.) Women, 62.7% of impoverished women live in sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa. For those women living in poverty, having something every month that costs money and time can impact their lives greatly. Finding menstrual products for these women is a big struggle. However, Tamara Magwashu is working to make that struggle easier.

Magwashu War Against Period Poverty

Magwashu has been dealing with period poverty since she was a little girl growing up in the Eastern Cape province. When she was a little girl, Magwashu would have to take a week off of school when she had her period because she only had old rags to use. This means that Magwashu lost 12 weeks of education every year, missing out on potentially crucial parts of her education.

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), 30% of girls in South Africa did not attend school during their period. Growing up in poverty, Magwashu didn’t have full access to proper sanitary menstrual products and had to work to provide for herself and her family. Part of her income was put aside to buy sanitary pads rather than use the old rags. As time went on, Magwashu continued to work and eventually got a public relations degree from the University of Johannesburg.

Magwashu realized there was an issue involving young girls and access to period products. So, she decided to take action against period poverty and start a business focused on this issue. She faced many problems when trying to start this business, such as no bank wanting to give her a loan because she had no assets. Still, Magwashu persevered and launched Azosule in 2021. Azosule’s goal is to sell period products at an affordable price for those who need them and live in poverty.

Since starting the business, Magwashu has brought period products to many schools in her home area, providing products to last them six months. She works to expand her business to other schools and educate everyone on the reality of periods for impoverished women. Magwashu stated to BBC in 2023 that “Period poverty is not a women’s issue, it’s a societal issue.”

How Caity Cutter Was Inspired

Magwashu’s influence did not just end there; she inspired other young girls and women to take action against period poverty. Caity Cutter is one of those girls and, at just 12 years old, helped make a change in this societal issue. Cutter, who lives in Germany, was moved when she found out about period poverty in other countries. After reading about Magwashu, Cutter decided to do something to help. The young girl told her father about the issue and asked how they could help.

Her influence on her father pushed him to donate to Magwashu’s company. Michael Cutter saved up money from his job and made an overwhelming donation of 500,000 pads. Along with that, Magwashu stated that he made “further donations that went to us getting a warehouse and hiring staff to distribute the pads further.” This donation not only helps Azosule but also helps these young girls not have to miss school just because of their period.

– Tess Curran

Tess is based in Boston, MA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Increasing Access to Child Care in South Africa Supports Women

Child Care in South AfricaIn South Africa, women are disproportionately affected by unemployment, with the rate for women at 35.1% in 2023, compared to 31% for men. However, progress is being made in areas such as child care. Around 70% of care in Africa is provided by female relatives, with just 3% of care involving paid work. Africa has the highest amount of unpaid care work globally. This unpaid care work is a barrier to women’s participation in the labor force. Approximately 34% of women in Africa reported that unpaid care work prevented them from having a paid job, compared to 3.9% of men.

In South Africa, many waste pickers and domestic workers leave their children with neighbors as a form of child care. In Durban, a group of waste pickers collectively pays an elderly couple for child care, choosing this option for its affordability and flexibility in payment terms. The female caregiver accepts materials collected by the waste pickers as part of the payment. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, 68% of child care workers in South Africa said they were in danger of closing permanently due to rising costs. This threatened to decrease the number of child care options available further. However, different initiatives are addressing child care in South Africa.

Child Care South Africa

Child Care South Africa is one initiative aiming to provide quality child care in the country. Between 2017 and 2019, the Cash Plus Care (Qhawekazi) project was established to empower women aged 19 to 24. A total of 5,087 young women completed all 12 Cash Plus Care Empowerment sessions, highlighting the project’s extensive impact on their lives.

SmartStart

Furthermore, SmartStart provides communities in South Africa with access to high-quality early learning programs for children aged 3 to 4. About 80% of lower-income families in South Africa lack access to early learning for children younger than 5, making child care crucial not only for mothers but also for children’s futures.

One of SmartStart’s goals is to create a women-led care economy by empowering them to become early learning practitioners. Since 2015, a community of 9,000 practitioners has emerged. These Early Learning Practitioners are trained to secure government funding as microentrepreneurs.

South Africa’s Expanded Public Works Program

Started in 2004, South Africa’s Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP) trains unemployed beneficiaries, mostly women, in areas such as day care activities. By 2015, approximately 20,000 care practitioners had been trained. Reports indicated that this scheme contributed to income growth more than any other similar project. Women particularly benefited from paid care work, as they represented 90% of the home-based care workers who participated in the program.

The ECCE Program

By 2030, the government in South Africa aims for all children aged 0 to 5 able to access an early childhood care and education (ECCE) program. The National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy (ECD) allows more women to have paid jobs because it alleviates the need for women to be responsible for child care during working hours. The following three benefits arise from supporting ECCE services:

  • More paid jobs in the care economy.
  • More women can form part of the labor force.
  • More assistance for children’s development.

The Future

The highlighted initiatives aim to increase the amount and quality of child care in South Africa. The additional support enables women to engage with the economy. This will improve the position of women while also benefiting the wider community and combating poverty by raising household income levels.

– Amy Fox

Amy is based in Birmingham, UK. and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Reducing Elderly Poverty in Costa Rica

Elderly Poverty in Costa RicaPoverty in the Latin American and Caribbean region remains prevalent post-pandemic, with more than 180 million people unable to afford basic necessities. Despite having the lowest inflation rate in the region, 21.8% of people in Costa Rica live below the poverty line. The elderly demographic consists of 9% of Costa Rica’s population, a figure that could double by 2050. Elderly poverty in Costa Rica is linked to the average life expectancy of 75.5 years, often necessitating assistance due to age-related health issues. Other factors contributing to poverty among seniors include ageism, which leads to exclusion, discrimination, abuse, violence and exploitation.

Reform Strategies

Reform strategies, such as the 2002 Regional Implementation Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean, focused on mitigating violence-related issues affecting the elderly by promoting conversations between pertinent parties and forming networks for the elderly’s safety. The “Ciudadano de Oro” or “Gold Citizen” award program by the Caja system ensures the rights of citizens 65 years and older are respected. With the Gold Citizen award, the elderly have access to certain medical services, financial aid, discounted activities and community engagement.

Poverty persists among the elderly in Costa Rica, with 23% facing economic hardships as of 2019. Additionally, elderly women have lower earnings-related pension income and longer life expectancy. Patriarchal systems that have historically relegated women to home care roles or supportive jobs rather than leadership positions in society have exacerbated this vulnerability. 

Initiatives to Reduce Elderly Poverty

Costa Rica Red de Cuido subsidizes 80% of care costs for elders below the poverty line through local networks. Elders have access to social care, community centers, hygiene, housing services and a long-term care system. The program is funded by taxes on beer, liquor and cigarettes, aiming to alleviate financial stress on poorer older adults and adapt to sociocultural changes in family care.

The National Council for Older Adults (CONAPAM) oversees private residential care through non-organization funds. Elders who are dependent on family, facing neglect, lack access to private centres or lack social and economic assistance can access these funds. In 2018, more than 2,155 beneficiaries have received care. Additionally, CONAPDIS (National Council for Persons with Disabilities) catered to 1,350 people through non-profit residential organizations in 2018.

Elderly Day Care Centers focus on those 65 years and over from low-income backgrounds through external non-profit associations. They provide meals, recreational therapy, social integration activities and psychological support, encouraging youth volunteers to assist. In 2018, centres have supported more than 1,500 people with a subsidy of $175 per month. Home Care, managed by COPANAM, provided services to 13,900 beneficiaries at risk of poverty and adverse social conditions through 59 civil associations, according to a 2022 article.

Providing Economic Stability

Costa Rica’s rapidly growing elderly population highlights the importance of boosting economic stability by reducing elderly poverty. The silver economy—economic activities, products and services for people older than 50—contributes to a more stable economy. Government and non-profit organizations are working to reduce elderly poverty through financial and health care schemes, ensuring a more economically stable Costa Rica.

– Lydie Udofia

Lydie is based in Switzerland and focuses on World News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Experiencing Period Poverty in gaza

Period Poverty In gazaSince the events of October 7, Israel has tightened its grip on the Gaza Strip. It has made it increasingly difficult for aid to enter the territory. Israel’s blockade has, therefore, left many pharmacy and shop shelves barren. One product in particular has become increasingly sparse on the shelves of various pharmacies across Gaza: menstruation pads. On the rare occasion that pads make their way on a shelf, they are sold at nearly five to six times their original price. For many unemployed and homeless Gazan women, such an expense is unthinkable. This, combined with limited water supply, lack of privacy and indoor plumbing, has compelled women to take measures into their own hands. As the rate of period poverty continues to mount within the Gaza Strip, its female residents prove that there is no shortage of resilience and ingenuity.

Period Poverty among Women and Girls in Gaza

In a study conducted by the United Nations (U.N.), an estimated total of 700,000 Gazan women and girls menstruate but do not have access to hygiene products, such as pads and toilet paper. Even more troubling is their barred access to toilets and running water. Various shelters run by The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the U.N. aid agency for Palestinians, say there is only one roll of toilet paper per 498 people. Within these same shelters, more than 400 residents share a single bathroom.

The situation is no better for women who live in shared apartment complexes with extended family. Limited access to water forces many to restrict the times they flush the toilet– only doing so when deemed necessary. Three functioning water pipelines remain for the whole of Gaza, thus making it increasingly difficult for women to wash themselves. Showering has become a luxury only some women can afford. Many women rise early and queue in front of hospitals in the hopes of showering before the water supply is cut for that day. Others are there to use the bathroom. Queues can number from up to 1,000 people.

Current Experiences

Owda is a Gazan woman documenting her experience online. She shared a video of one of many makeshift bathrooms found within the displacement camps. She points to the toilet in question, a garbage basket on the ground inside a meager tent and says to the camera: “There is no water. There is nothing around them. There is no infrastructure. They’re living in just a tent and they need bathroom(s). They’re humans.” The U.N. indicates that these sanitary conditions leave many Gazan women at risk of contracting reproductive and urinary tract infections. The sanitary pads that are at the disposal of Gazan women are poorly crafted and only further increase their risk of infection.

Gazan women and girls, therefore, are no longer afforded any privacy in tending to their menstrual hygiene. This issue has put a strain on the psychological health of many women within the strip. Some women share that the mounting stress they are experiencing has caused their menstrual cycles to come twice a month, further exacerbating the issue. As political tensions continue to rise, period poverty within the Gaza Strip only becomes a more pressing matter.

With Extreme Circumstances Comes Extreme Measures

The difficulty in obtaining female hygiene products has forced many Gazan women to resort to dangerous measures. Some women wash previously used pads to cope with the lack. Others have opted for old shreds of clothing, towels and ripped pieces of the tents they are using as shelter as substitutes for pads. Adult diapers and measly tissues are also on the list of items used as surrogates. The use of these substitutions may cause skin irritation, infection and deadly toxic shock syndrome. Though they pose great risks to their health, Gazan women have few other options.

Birth control has become a favored remedy among Gazan women, who would rather delay their cycle than deal with the physical and psychological burden that comes with it. Contrary to pads, the pill is readily available and far less expensive than hygiene products. A month’s supply’s worth of birth control costs approximately $3. The extreme measures Gazan women are reduced to take speak of the gravity of the situation. Furthermore, it highlights how women, once again, bear the blows of war. Gaza’s ongoing period poverty epidemic confirms the previous statement.

An International Call for Change

The international community has noticed Gaza’s shortage of menstrual hygiene products and has done its best to aid the crisis. Anera, a nonprofit organization, has provided hygiene kits, which include pads, underwear and wet wipes, to more than 20,000 women and girls. ActionAid has also supported the women in Gaza by preparing hygiene packages with a month’s worth of supplies. Despite their admirable efforts, more has to be done to aid the women in Gaza and stop the rate of period poverty from rising.

– Yasmine Nowroozi

Yasmine is based in Laval, Quebec, Canada and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Women’s Cooperatives in India

Women's Cooperatives in IndiaIndia’s female population constitutes 48.4% of the total population. As of 2023, only 28.7% of the female population was in the labor force and according to the International Labor Organization (ILO), 81.8% of working women in India are employed in the informal sector. Workers in the informal sector do not enjoy job security or benefits. Legal frameworks do not protect them and they do not possess worker rights compared to those employed in the formal sector.

Women’s cooperatives in India aim to mend this employment disparity by providing legal employment and financial independence to impoverished women working in the informal sector. This thereby empowers them to sustain themselves by participating in social and economic activities. Two significant women’s cooperatives in India are the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) Cooperative Federation and the Indian Cooperative Network for Women (ICNW).

SEWA

India’s first women’s cooperative, SEWA, was founded in Gujarat by Ela Bhatt in 1972. SEWA brings together women employed in the informal sector and strives to improve their economic conditions, “drive social change,” and fight for female workers’ rights. SEWA’s vision and mission is to empower poor women by ensuring that they achieve “full employment and self-reliance at the collective and the member level.”

As of 2024, SEWA consists of 300,000 women workers, 112 women’s cooperatives and operations running more than six sectors. The organization provides “fair employment and decent work” for women, catering to their needs as female workers. Through its cooperatives, SEWA provides financial, health care, insurance, communication, production and housing services, among others, to benefit women in the informal sector. Overall, SEWA aims to provide economic and social security to poor women through income, employment, access to credit, improved housing, education and access to health care.

ICNW

Initiated by Jaya Arunachalam in 1981, the ICNW is the first South-Indian women’s cooperative “for, by and of poor women.” It provides opportunities for poor women to learn new skills, secure employment and obtain easy access to credit. The cooperative’s vision, mission and objective are to alleviate female poverty, give marginalized women a voice and support women by empowering them to be financially self-reliant.

The ICNW has lent loans amounting to Rs.3,456 million (approximately $41 million) to more than 500,000 women from thousands of slums and villages in three South Indian states: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The group has 14 cooperative branches spread across South India, ensuring that women working in the informal sector become financially independent, receive credit at low interest rates, learn to fight for their rights as female workers and lead the way to mobilize other women to achieve socioeconomic stability.

Final Remark

As Dr. Patel and Dr. Sethi from the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog state, encouraging “cooperative models that integrate capacity building, education, skill, training, engagement of youth and women” can help achieve the “dual targets of [India] becoming a $5 trillion economy while fulfilling commitments of U.N.-SDGs targets.”

Many such women’s cooperatives in India have taken the initiative to lift vulnerable women out of poverty by making them socially and economically self-reliant. SEWA and ICNW are two examples of organizations working toward improving the quality of life of women in India’s informal sector.

– Adya Umesh

Adya is based in Bangalore, Karnataka, India and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Single Elderly Women in Japan Struggle with Poverty

Single Elderly Women in Japan Struggle with PovertyA recent survey conducted by Tokyo Metropolitan University Professor Aya Abe reveals that 44.1% of single women aged 65 and older in Japan are living in poverty. This rate is notably higher than their male counterparts and is nearly equivalent to the 44.5% poverty rate among working-age single-parent households.

Japan faces growing concerns about its aging population, particularly single elderly women who are at a higher risk of poverty. Current data suggests a stark contrast in poverty risks between genders and marital statuses, with elderly women more likely to struggle financially. Projections indicate that poverty rates for elderly women could increase from 22% to 25% and for divorced or unmarried women, the rate could spike to 50%. In contrast, only about 10% of elderly men are expected to fall into poverty. Widowhood offers limited financial relief, often restricted to bereaved family pensions.

Economic Inequality and Labor Market Challenges

The 2022 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare report in Japan reveals significant gender and age disparities in “one-person households.” Men constitute 35.9% of these households, with the largest age group being 70 to 74 years old, accounting for 28.7% of single male households. In contrast, women make up 64.1% of one-person households, with the largest demographic being those aged 85 and over, representing 24.1% of single female households.

Despite a doubling of income over the past two decades, Japanese women still earn significantly less than their male counterparts. As of Feb. 2023, the Statistics Bureau of Japan reported that the average monthly income for women was ¥83,896 ($630), compared to ¥345,645 for men. This disparity is exacerbated by the fact that 70% of female workers hold part-time or nonpermanent positions, which typically offer lower pay and limited opportunities for advancement. Consequently, Japan’s ranking suffered in the World Economic Forum’s 2022 Global Gender Gap report, ranking 116th out of 146 countries, primarily due to wage inequality and a scarcity of women in senior management roles.

Societal Norms and Systemic Disadvantages

“Social norms that assume women are being supported by men have led to a system that doesn’t consider women living alone—and persist even today,” said Abe, “Attention on ‘women’s poverty’ often focuses on young women and single mothers. Policies also revolve around child support and are not essentially supporting women.” This disparity stems from the post-war pension system, which was based on the assumption that women would leave the workforce to raise children while men, employed full-time, would secure generous benefits. Consequently, the system inadequately supports single, divorced or never-married women in their later years.

Policy Recommendations and Future Directions

In Japan, the public pension system covers individuals from age 20 to 59, with basic pension benefits starting at age 65, contingent on a minimum of 10 years of contributions. Full benefits are available after 40 years of contributions. Enhancing the income security function of this system can potentially mitigate the risk of elderly poverty.

A RIETI report recommended three frameworks for improving Japan’s pension system. Firstly, it suggested expanding employee health insurance to cover nonpermanent, part-time workers, thereby ensuring more comprehensive protection and reducing the risk of exclusion from the pension safety net. Secondly, raising the pensionable age could increase benefits for those currently receiving low amounts, more effectively addressing elderly poverty. Finally, implementing partial reforms to the existing system could significantly alleviate poverty without the need for a complete overhaul.

The Japanese government is actively promoting “lifelong work” to alleviate the country’s significant labor shortage and to encourage elderly citizens to contribute more toward their medical and nursing care expenses. To support this initiative, the Fiscal System Council is evaluating a proposal to raise the pensionable age to 68. Although the official retirement age in Japan is 65, the country has the world’s second-highest rate of senior employment, with many older adults working informal part-time jobs to supplement their pensions.

Looking Ahead

Japan’s aging population, especially single elderly women, faces severe economic challenges. Despite efforts to improve income security, significant disparities remain in wages and employment opportunities. With proposed reforms like raising the pensionable age and expanding insurance coverage, Japan aims to address these ongoing issues and enhance financial stability for its elderly citizens, striving to reduce poverty and improve their quality of life.

– Cindy Hong

Cindy is based in Milpitas, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Barefoot College India – Women Becoming Solar Engineers

Barefoot CollegeThe Barefoot College in Rajasthan, India, is working to help women who would not have previously had the chance to study and progress as engineers. It offers women from all over the world from impoverished backgrounds the opportunity to study, progress their skills and, therefore, progress their careers. Not only this, but it is also helping to create sustainable energy options for local communities that are better placed for the future.  It is proving to be good for both economic development and helping to change the narrative, specifically of the role of what women can do to help reduce poverty and to provide solutions to the issues surrounding poverty in India and wider afield.

Background

The college was first created in 1972 and is based in Rajasthan, specifically Tilonia. The Barefoot College supports women in attending classes and gaining qualifications that help their future careers, specifically in engineering. The college has helped 1,708 women from 96 countries become qualified engineers and are then referred to as “solar mamas.” The organization also assists local communities in becoming self-sufficient. It has successfully collected more than 70 million liters of water from storage tanks and ponds, providing safe water.

Empowerment

The women involved with Barefoot College become qualified not only when they graduate from the college but also when they are empowered to change their lives and those of others in the community. This, in turn, changes the social hierarchy of what women can do. Specifically, when looking at their income and careers in India, they can offer financial support to help lift their families and others out of poverty. The college is helping to drastically change the narrative for women and provide solutions to poverty.

Sustainable Energy

Women entering the workforce isn’t the only positive outcome; local communities also benefit from more sustainable energy sources. Barefoot College has played a vital role in this transformation, providing safe drinking water, electrifying 75,000 houses and 1,300 villages using solar power and preventing the pollution of approximately 45 million liters of kerosene.

Economic Development

The college also benefits the economy of India and local cities in the area. The economy benefits from more women qualified to work. The country benefits from having more people working and the college helps significantly, with the majority of its college students being women who would not previously have worked. In addition, the college offers support to other countries through its research.

Progress for the Future for Women and India

As shown, Barefoot College helps not only women or the local communities but also India in general. It helps women, in particular, pursue careers in engineering and local communities benefit from this effort. The initiative also offers advice to other countries to help develop local communities there. So, it is not only helping Indian women thrive in poverty but also aims to help other cities and countries thrive with sustainable options.

– Rosie Miller

Rosie is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Menstrual Organizations Fighting Period Poverty

Organizations Fighting Period PovertyGlobally, about 500 million females suffer from period poverty, which involves a lack of access to menstrual products and appropriate facilities. Consequently, many resort to using cheap materials such as newspapers, rags and socks. Unfortunately, these alternatives often pose serious health risks, including infections. Beyond health risks, period poverty obstructs education for girls and women. Many girls miss school during their menstrual periods due to a lack of access to required menstrual products. On average, girls menstruate for four to five days each month, totaling about 50 days per year. Missing school can have lifelong impacts, including reduced employment opportunities and diminished equality with men. As things stand, menstrual equity, which ensures the affordability, accessibility and safety of menstrual products for those who menstruate could be crucial for ending period poverty.

Period Poverty in Ghana, Algeria and Nigeria

Heavy taxation on menstrual products such as pads and tampons is a growing concern in Ghana. Most menstrual products carry a 20% import tax, leading women to report that these items consume nearly 25% of their income. With the minimum wage in Ghana at 14 cedis, a single pad can cost between 15 and 40 cedis. Consequently, many Ghanaian women resort to using alternatives like cloth and newspapers.

In Algeria, the situation is dire, as it ranks as the worst country for period affordability with an average monthly cost of $34.05 spent on menstrual products. In contrast, South Korea’s average is $25, but it benefits from much higher wages. Nigeria ranks third among countries with the least affordable menstrual products.

Indoni Yamnzi

In South Africa, widely known for its significant gender-based violence issues, the impact extends into aspects of daily life, including education and health. The country reports numerous rape cases daily, reflecting broader systemic issues around women’s rights. This environment contributes to a lack of attention to other significant issues, such as menstrual health, leading to one in three girls missing school during their menstrual period. Addressing this is Indoni Yamnzi, one of the nonprofit organizations fighting period poverty in South Africa. The organization is stepping in to provide crucial support. They offer free menstrual products and educational programs, including reusable safe pads, monthly period packages and empowerment workshops. Unathi, one of the founders, who grew up in Cape Town amid violence, was driven by her more fortunate personal circumstances—including a supportive family and the opportunity for higher education—to create a safer environment and empower girls across South Africa.

MENstruation Foundation

This nonprofit foundation fighting period poverty is also based in South Africa. Founded by Sib Ngesi, a South African actor and producer said: “If men bled once a month, sanitary products would be free. Condoms are free and sanitary products are not, it is a failure of justice.” Until now the foundation has installed 128 sanitary pad dispensing machines and provided girls in school tokens that can be exchanged at the Machine for up to eight sanitary pads per month.

Padbank Nigeria

Ibrahim Faleye, an undergraduate studying biology, founded this nongovernmental organization to educate boys about menstruation and prevent them from shaming girls. Raised with his mother and sisters, Faleye was familiar with menstruation from a young age but recognized that discussing it publicly was considered embarrassing. Determined to dismantle this menstrual stigma, he included boys in conversations about menstruation. After receiving education through Faleye’s program, 14-year-old Opeyemi Adedeji stopped teasing his female classmates about menstruating. He learned that menstruation involves more than just blood—it’s a crucial biological process where eggs are released. Opeyemi even began offering help to his classmates suffering from menstrual cramps.

Breaking the Period Stigma

While contributions through volunteering and donations are valuable, experts say that addressing the deeper issue of period stigma is crucial. This stigma, which shames those who menstruate, has historical roots in ancient religious beliefs that labeled menstruating women as unclean and dangerous, necessitating their separation from men. This archaic view persists, making menstruation a taboo topic. Many individuals feel compelled to speak in hushed tones or use euphemisms like “Aunt Flow” or “Code Red” when discussing menstruation, treating it as an embarrassing subject. To combat this stigma, advocates and organizations fighting period poverty argue that society must accept menstruation as a natural and normal bodily function, open to discussion without embarrassment. Encouraging open dialogue about menstruation across all genders, they suggest, can normalize the topic, reducing the stigma and promoting a more inclusive understanding.

Looking Ahead

Addressing period poverty remains critical, especially in regions where high costs and lack of access to menstrual products exacerbate inequalities and health risks. Organizations fighting period poverty like Indoni Yamnzi, the MENstruation Foundation and Padbank Nigeria are taking significant steps to provide resources and education, whilst also highlighting the urgent need for broader systemic changes. By promoting menstrual equity and challenging the stigma associated with menstruation, these initiatives aim to improve access to essential products, enabling girls and women to lead healthier, more empowered lives.

– Eunsung Koh

Eunsung is based in Seoul, South Korea and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Remedy for Period Poverty in Ghana Fosters Circular Economy

Remedy for Period Poverty Fosters Circular Economy in GhanaPeriod poverty, a significant issue in Ghana, describes the inability of women to afford menstrual products, which can significantly impact various aspects of their lives. The absence of basic sanitary needs often prevents individuals from attending work or school, adversely affecting the prospects of low-income individuals. Young girls are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of period poverty, which often prevents them from attending school. Girls who lack the financial resources to buy sanitary products may miss up to a week of school each month. This amounts to about a fifth of their school year annually. Ghana’s sustainable solution to period poverty aims to create an economically beneficial circular economy.

Taxation and Economic Burden

In Ghana, period poverty is exacerbated by some of the highest taxation rates on menstrual hygiene products in the world. The Ghana Revenue Authority classifies these products as Finished Goods– otherwise known as final consumer goods, subjecting them to a 20% import tax plus a 15% Value Added Tax.

Research indicates that the average minimum wage for women in Ghana is about $26 a month, while period products can cost between $3 and $7 for just eight pads. This means that out of every 80 cedis earned, 11 cedis are spent solely on menstrual products. This calculation does not consider the number of family members these women need to support with essentials like water, food and clothing. Additionally, families often have more than one member who menstruates, compounding the financial burden, as the 80 to 11 ratio applies to each menstruating individual.

Despite the high rates of period poverty in countries like Ghana, communities and advocates are actively working to address these ongoing challenges and alleviate the financial strain that menstrual products impose on women.

Kodu Technology’s Innovative Solution

Kodu Technology, an organization focused on eradicating period poverty in rural communities through eco-friendly products, actively works to ease the stress of menstruation using banana fibers.

Umar Farouk Mubraka, Co-Founder of Kodu, explains how the company initially intended to make paper from banana fiber. During its research, it discovered that banana and plantain fibers have high absorption capabilities, leading to the development of a new type of sanitary pad. This innovation utilizes by-products from the agricultural industry, fostering a circular economy that benefits local farmers and minimizes waste. Farouk added, “{this project is} positioned as a catalyst for positive environmental and socio-economic change,” in addition to helping the economy and proactively working against poverty. 

Farouk, born in Wa, a town in the Upper West Region of Ghana, is a licensed nutritionist who dedicates her time to facilitating this circular economy and alleviating period poverty. In 2023, Kodu received more than $8,000 after winning the Circular Economy Competition. Circular economies are increasingly seen as a guiding principle in today’s world, helping to generate economic revenue in impoverished nations and sustainably reusing materials to benefit the environment.

Looking Ahead

Ghana’s innovative approach to addressing period poverty through sustainable practices exemplifies the potential for creating impactful change. Initiatives like eco-friendly menstrual products made from locally sourced materials are making menstrual hygiene more accessible and affordable. These ongoing efforts contribute not only to improving the lives of women and girls but also to fostering economic resilience and environmental sustainability.

– Hailey Nurry

Hailey is based in PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr