Girls trained on producing biodegradable sanitary pads

A group of young women from the most underprivileged community of Bangladesh are being trained to emerge as innovative entrepreneurs to produce reusable biodegradable sanitary pads.

Eco-friendly Low-cost Liquid Absorbent (ELLA) Pad, a social initiative, with the support of the European Union and funded by the Sustained Opportunities for Nutrition Governance (SONGO) project started a pilot project to develop the capacity of char women to make their own sanitary towels reusing the textile scraps.

To ensure the health and nutrition of underprivileged char women, SONGO project has targeted 1,47,000 households to improve their livelihood and ensure sustainable nutrition. A three-week-long training program on “Capacity Development of Young Entrepreneurs in Making Biodegradable Low-cost Sanitary Pad” started on October 27 at Gaibandha.

SONGO project operation head Mostofa Islam Reza launched the training as chief guest.

Mahe Alam, Enterprise Promotion and Private Sector Engagement Manager of ICCO Cooperation (Part of Cordaid), at the programme, appreciated the reusable sanitary pad initiative of ELLA Pad to ensure access to the sanitary pads to the period poverty of monga area.

He also said that ELLA Pad will install pad banks in three selected schools next month on a pilot basis. Later the model would be replicated in 18 unions in Gaibandha and Kurigram.

Many girls who drop out of schools due to lack of access to sanitary pads will be benefited from these pad banks.