Ending period poverty through hands-on reusable pads 

For 17-year-old Shema and her friends in a rural village in Gatsibo district, managing their periods used to be too expensive. Today, these young women feel safe and have their dignity back by learning to craft, care for, and sustainably use reusable sanitary pads. 

This is a community initiative that protects vulnerable girls from period poverty and the dangers it brings. 

Battling monthly period anxieties  

Shema is part of a local sexual and reproductive health and rights club, which trains vulnerable girls and young women how to craft reusable sanitary pads using local fabrics. 

The necessity for this initiative is stark. For them, finding the money for disposable modern pads is hard. Shema knows this from her own life. 

“For girls without jobs, getting their period can cause immense worry, knowing they cannot afford basic menstrual pads. That is exactly what I went through,” Shema explains.  

She points out the dangers of this financial strain. 

“Girls often wonder who to turn to for financial support, which can sadly leave them vulnerable to exploitation.” 

22-year-old Peninah, a peer educator who underwent a comprehensive 6-month training programme, agrees with Shema. What really sparked her passion to train the other girls was witnessing a friend cry because she could not sanitary products. 

“I dedicated my efforts to using my acquired skills to train girls and young women in my village on how to sew reusable pads after seeing how much pain period poverty causes,” Peninah recalls. 

Recognising that vulnerable girls require holistic support and protection, she has one main goal: “I dream of a village where every girl can manage her period safely.” 

Championing girls’ well-being 

Following their intensive training, Shema and her peers feel much more protected today. 

“Learning to make our own reusable pads has been transformative because we are guaranteed protection every month. It is not just about saving money. It is about living securely and confidently,” Shema shares. 

Beyond personal use, the girls and young women are being equipped with life skills to champion their own futures. 

“We are becoming agents of change, ready to support our friends in our community whenever they face a lack of sanitary pads,” she adds. 

Peninah highlights that reusable pads offer a vital, sustainable alternative when disposable ones are out of reach.  

“Previously, some girls had to use inadequate scraps of cloth. This made it very hard for them to comfortably go about their daily activities. The reusable pads have provided a definitive solution.” 

About the initiative  

Through the ‘Girls Decide in Supportive and Protective Communities’ project, 2,910 girls have been equipped with the practical skills to make reusable sanitary pads. 

To ensure optimum hygiene, the young women receive comprehensive training on the proper usage, washing, drying, and storage of their handmade pads. 

In partnership with the Association des Guides du Rwanda (AGR), Plan International Rwanda has set up 3 menstrual hygiene hubs. These hubs work alongside 8 youth sexual and reproductive health and rights clubs, reaching 400 young people, including 280 girls and 120 boys, across the Nyaruguru, Bugesera, and Gatsibo districts. 

This girl-led initiative is driven by 194 young peer educators, 134 girls and 60 boys, as community champions who actively dismantle harmful myths and equip adolescents with accurate, life-saving sexual health information.