Following on from the project that started in the autumn of 2022, we recently handed out Mela for her reusable sanitary pads to 350 girls aged between 12 & 13 at our Sher Schools. This is made possible by the tremendous support of the Dutch Flower Foundation.
Mela (መላ) means solution in Amharic. A solution for a problem that unfortunately exists for many young women and girls in Africa: a lack of affordable sanitary products. For many people, menstrual hygiene is an inconvenience or taboo. For millions of girls around the world, it can pose barriers to education, health, self-esteem, and human rights. And for many, the start of menstruation typically means a loss of days in school.
MELA FOR HER is an Ethiopian social start-up enterprise that transforms women and girls’ lives across Ethiopia by providing them with affordable and eco-friendly menstrual products and menstrual health education.
In this project, the Sher-schools, Mela for her and Dutch Flower Foundation teamed up. Besides handing out the pads, a team of experts has trained a group of Sher-school teachers and through the girls-club all girls are offered a training on menstrual health.
We would like to thank the Mela for her team for the fruitful collaboration and we sincerely thank the Dutch Flower Foundation for their unwavering support. Together we contribute to a world where girls can enjoy their right to dignity, enabling them to reach their full potential in life.
