Uganda - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Green Periods is a project that empowers adolescent girls in rural communities by teaching them to craft eco-friendly, reusable sanitary pads from discarded polythene materials, fostering sustainable practices and improving menstrual hygiene management.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Green Periods empowers adolescent girls in rural communities by addressing menstrual hygiene and sustainability. The project trains girls to create eco-friendly, reusable sanitary pads from discarded polythene materials, transforming waste into a valuable resource. Through hands-on workshops, participants learn the skills needed to produce these sanitary pads, which provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution to menstrual hygiene while fostering a sense of self-reliance and entrepreneurship. The project addresses two key issues: menstrual hygiene management and plastic waste pollution. By reusing polythene materials, we reduce environmental pollution and promote sustainable practices within the community. Additionally, the project educates girls about menstrual health, helping to break the stigma and improve overall well-being.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Green Periods Organisation has its main goal of providing assistance to the young girls in the rural societies about the problem of menstruation and to come up with the best ways they could be used to. The project fosters Girl’s welfare as the reach to make biosecure sanitary wiping pads from the used polythene papers making waste a resource. Additionally, during the practical sessions, both male and female participants get to learn on how to make these sanitary pads as they come with the Following benefits: They are cheap to make and very sustainable The participants, especially women or those engaged in business shall benefit from self-employment skills.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

Green Periods offers several major benefits through its eco-friendly, reusable sanitary pads project: Green Periods offers several major benefits through its eco-friendly, reusable sanitary pads project: Environmental Sustainability: On a positive note, the project aims at curbing the disposal of plastic wastes whereby polythene materials used are from wastes collected from around the city. It also aids in the fight against pollution and also changes the attitude of many people in the community towards making proper use of pollution. Cost-Effective Solution: Sanitary towels, reusable, are cheaper relative to disposable pads; hence, they help save the expenses incurred by families of adolescent girls in rural settings. This is especially so in developing countries; where the affected individuals come from the low income bracket, they cannot afford the commercially available disposable sanitary wear. Empowerment and Education: The idea kills the spirit of dependency.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

It is focused on providing its services to adolescent girls and women of ages, between 10 and 40 years of age, from the Eastern region of Uganda. The project is for the young girls in particular at the age of puberty who may be finding it hard to manage with personal hygiene especially when it comes to defying the natural act of menstruation as well as the women who may find it very financially and economically challenging to afford quality and lasting feminine products. That way it targets the right demographic and also the cultural taboo of talking about menstruation is slowly being demystified to those in need in the developing world. The targeted beneficiaries include school-age girls who are forced out of class due to lack of appropriate menstrual management products, young women who bear the monthly expense burden of disposable pads, women who have become sensitive to environmental impacts and effects, and who would be willing to embrace environmentally friendly solutions.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-08-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

2

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

2

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Elizabeth Kitimbo Is a co-founder Green Periods, With experience in Education of 3 years, skilled in teaching Chineese Language and English language. Mary Mukyaala is a Co-founder at Green Periods, with experience in social work of 4 years, skilled in sewing and making of re-usable sanitary pads.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

https://beautiful-periods-uganda.odoo.com/

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

f) Healthcare (healthcare equipment and services)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

The problem that Green Periods addresses is essential because it helps to keep the cost of menstruation products low. The project ensures that the girl or woman practices what she has learned to produce locally affordable sanitary pads from local discarded polythene products thereby cutting costs on disposable pads. This has especially been tested and noted to be a great source of financial relief for the low-income earning families in the region of Eastern Uganda where the cost of acquiring menstrual products is very expensive. Secondly, it also enhances economic development through skills generation that can easily be marketed once participants secure project specific training. This would help women and girls who can easily make and supply these reusable pads within their various localities incomes. As a result of opening and maintaining new and sustainable jobs, as well as making it easier for households to afford necessities on a monthly basis,

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Green Periods also highly supports the Good Health and Well Being in particular, it improves adolescent girls and women through the provision of hygienic and reusable sanitary pads. It also promotes menstrual health and indeed minimizes the possibilities of infections and other complications that are associated with bad menstrual habits. By conducting MF, the project informs participants about proper care and sanitation, which in turn makes them knowledgeable about ways of enhancing their health. Also, the access to cheap and eco-friendly menstrual products is also important as it means girls do not have to absent classes or work due to their menstrual cycle, and this affects their well-being, mental health. As a activism initiative that provides material assistance in form of sanitary products while at the same time sensitising women and girls on their body among other key aspects of menstrual health and hygiene, Green Periods aligns with the goal of promoting healthier societies.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Efforts by Green Periods emphasizes the Quality Education goal by helping young girls continue with their education without being dropped out by menstruation. Staying/liberal commerce, economically viable sanitation ‘involves pads and menstrual health education and make sure girls can go to school for business’ By providing reusable sanitary pads and menstrual health education, the project guarantees that girls can go to school and be fully productive in their schooling. This makes it possible to eradicate the cases of truancy and drop out due to inevitable control of menstruation products or knowledge. Also, the project has a girl’s training workshop to empower her with skills, to encourage long-term education, and to improve individuals’ ability to grow and develop personally and professionally.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Through education in menstrual health and provision of employment and business opportunities that economically empower female young adults and girls for Green Periods effectively addresses the Gender Equality goal. Through offering cost-effective, environmentally friendly reusable materials for menstruation, does not negatively affect education and daily tasks and thus enhances equal education for girls Probability: Extremely likely Moreover, the focus on training women and girls to produce and sell reusable sanitary pads as a means of promoting Green Periods makes the organization a promoter of economic self-sufficiency throughout women while fighting against male-oriented traditions and promoting the women’s active participation in the economical development of the community. In this way, Green Periods works to help lower people’s awareness of social stigma, specifically when it comes to female menstruation, and support women and girls to have better and healthier lives.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Green Periods helps in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation because it also aims to educate people on practicing hygienic menstrual products that do not harm the environment. More so, the project of providing reusable sanitary pads through the repurposing of polythene materials equally reduces the cycle of throwing out more single-use menstrual pads into the water bodies. Moreover, through facilitating girls and women to improve menstrual hygiene management, Green Periods also touches on the use of water in the process as it emphasizes the importance of clean water when washing and during the menstruation period, hence minimize the incidence of water-borne diseases. By doing so, the project contributes to efficient use of water and sanitation resources to spur health improvement and optimal conservation of the community’s facilities and environment.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

6

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

It is well noted that Green Periods mainly revolves around the themes of menstrual hygiene and environmental conservation but work, in a way, a bit towards the achievement of Affordable and Clean Energy. Through recycling of polythene and other materials, the project enables efficient use of the material and at the same time, conserves the raw materials as they are not used directly without any reuse and recycling. This can be seen to have a tendency of saving energy that otherwise might be utilized in the manufacturing of disposable sanitary products, and their subsequent dumping. Moreover, this social cause also focuses on changing the misogynistic attitudes by educating girl child and women, and through them promoting environmental conservation via adherence to green energy in product manufacturing and processing. As a result, this project links to the larger objective of providing affordability, reliability, sustainability, and modernity to energy for all.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Green Periods support Decent Work and Economic Growth by supporting entrepreneurship and offering the marketable opportunities, mainly to young women and girls in counties. In this regard, the project empowers the participants with knowledge in manufacturing and sale of reusable sanitary pads and thus, means of generating income and means of livelihood are availed. This in turn allows for productivity and profitability in various economically active ventures essential for the development of the local economy. Third, with its focus on sustainable practices of the use of resources, including for procurement, Green Periods contributes towards sustainable economic growth, employment for the people and decent work both being part of the proposed UN’s sustainable development goals.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Green Periods helps achieve Industry Innovation and Infrastructure by providing effective and eco-friendly menstrual products made from discarded polythene for cheap retail to needy individuals. Besides, applying this style ensures that there is a consideration of environmental concerns as well as encouraging organizations to adopt sustainable manufacturing procedures by utilizing waste products. The project promotes innovation and the elaboration of new ideas and technologies for environmental product design with potential for application on an expanded scale in different regions. Also for breaking down these institutions Green Periods develops small scale fabrication factories and training centers and empowers communities to support these enduring at the grass root level. Through supporting women and girls with entrepreneurial skills, and encouraging sustainable industrialization, Green Periods contributes to sustaining infrastructure, as well as sustainably engaging progress.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Given our mission, Green Periods significantly contributes to attaining the Reduced Inequalities objective in the following way: Nonetheless, through the distribution of affordable, reusable sanitary pads, the project guarantees that people who cannot afford to purchase menstrual hygiene products due to their low income can easily access them, thereby achieving some degree of equalisation of economic opportunities. Furthermore, through educating women and girls on how to make and sell these pads, Green Periods acts on behalf of the economic aspect by infusing the feminist agenda of creating employment for the females. This assists in minimizing the gender divide in economic integration as well as assist members of the minorities to enhance their existence. Aside from raising health consciousness on menstruation matters in schools and communities, the project also fights social prejudices and bias that are associated with menstruation thus promoting demographic proportionality.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

The use of used polythene materials as the raw material in the production of reusable sanitary pads also means that the project is an environmental conservation one in that it discourages the use of plastic products which are harmful to the environment and champions recycling. The project also makes communities less vulnerable by promoting biogas technology, and promoting affordable menstrual hygiene products to alleviate economic hardship. Moreover, educating the public through conducting workshops and training sessions in schools and teaching them proper ways of maintaining sustainable hygiene help create and promote, Green Periods also ensures that community members are equipped with other knowledge on how they can help in enhancing the rest of the community.. Ensuring sustainable environmental Management, Green Periods actively participates in the long-term establishment of sustainable societies that are safe, inclusive, residents, resilient, and environmentally sustainable.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Green Periods significantly supports the Responsible Consumption and Production goal mainly based on efficient use of resources to keep consumption levels sustainable in order to implement circular economy. Turning polythene materials into reusable sanitary pads has a positive impact of reducing waste habits and resulting in a lesser negative impact on environment as it will discourage the use of one-time products. Reusable pads entail efforts that utilize optimum resources in the production process, thus helping in the conservation of resources that would otherwise pollute the environment in the event they were used in the making of disposable pads. This type of management clearly adheres to circular economy principles and practices, as waste is threshold, and materials are reused and recycled. In addition, the organization through Green Periods enlightens women and girls on Environmental Conservation, thus taking up the cause and advocating for sustainable use of products.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Green Periods aligned with Climate Action in the sense that it not only looks into the causes of climate change but also the consequences. The manufacture of new sanitary reproductive pads entails the use of raw materials, which contributes to emission of greenhouse gases in the process. However, this project utilizes polythene materials that have been discarded to develop new sanitary pads, hence minimizing the use of other materials. In addition, through encouraging people to change the ways in which they consume certain products and aiming at the overall decrease of waste production and management with the focus on the disposal of the waste in landfills and incinerators, Green Periods helps to fight climate change. Finally, the educational workshops that are conducted under the framework of the project aim to increase people’s concern about environmental issues and climate change personally, as well as to foster community’s engagement in addressing these problems.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

3

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

5

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Green Periods can in an indirect way be seen to support the Life on Land goal by improving existing practices and preventing the loss of habitat. Although the project has centered on the need to provide proper menstrual hygiene, and provision of eco-friendly pads to replace the polythene pads, which are occasions disposed off in unclean places, the idea of recycling discarded polythene materials into reusable sanitary pads plays a significant role of reducing the adverse effects of polymer pollutants on the terrestrial environment. Furthermore, since Green Periods boosts its participants’ awareness of how environmental preservation and waste minimization are relevant in terrestrial ecosystems, it creates a personal connection between people’s actions and roles in harming or preserving the earth’s environment. In this way, the project helps to achieve the sustainable use of land and decisive action to stop the complete degradation of ecosystems, and the goals of the Life on Land.

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

5

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

In the same way that Green Periods supports the Participation goal, We also contribute to the Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions aim due to our focus on the rights of communities. Thereby, reducing cost of sanitation products for women and girls it helps women and girls respectively, thus helping to create an equitable society. Additionally, teaching skills to participants and orphaned youths that make them ease to embrace business and be economically independent helps support economic stability and peaceful and inclusive society. In addition, the project has more importance for creating education and awareness and thus contributes to increase in the social acceptance which has the effect of reducing inequalities, discriminations and prejudices that the society holds against menstruators.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Green Periods leads to Partnerships for the Goal through engaging with the Stakeholders like the local people, non-governmental organizations , governments, and the corporate partners. Cooperation with these entities takes advantage of synergy, which enhances the utility of the project through the sharing of expertise, resources, and interests. Partnership is also another means through which Green Periods can source funding, professional assistance and market places in order to expand its operations and impact the higher number of shops needed. These collaborations also enable knowledge sharing and capacity development, which are helpful in ensuring that the project undergoes constant improvement and evolves the approaches in line with those that best suit the local setting. Furthermore, through creating partnerships, Green Periods aligns different entities in the importance of sustainable development and puts an emphasis on society’s collaboration in the achievement of the SDGs.

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

2

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

4

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

5

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

6

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

5

05.08 Justification

New Type of Product/Service (05.02 - 4): Consists of innovation that turns polythene wastes materials into reusable sanitary pads as a solution to hygiene woes and waste menace. New Technology (05.03 - 5): The polythene is safely recycled ending up being reused into pads as a result of unique recycling and manufacturing. Improvement on Existing Products (05.04 - 6): Improves on re-usable pads by incorporating affordable locally sourced polythene and makes the pad even more endurable. Extension of Product Range (05.05 - 6): Covers a wider market base of affordable products for sustainable menstrual products for Low Income Consumers. Unmet Demand (05.06 - 7): Features a rather unusual product – the new sanitary pads based on the traditional pad format, made from recycled materials, in an effort to encourage the circulation of fewer virgin products and minimize harm to the environment.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

The identified competitors are organizations which make disposable sanitary pads and other forms of sanitary pads. However, Green Periods stands out in several key ways: Eco-Friendly Materials: we do not use disposable pads, but recycled polythene, thus solving the problem of waste. Affordability: This helps our company reduce our production costs as we have to source locally for other wastes required in the production of our pads; hence, our pads will be more affordable for the low-income earners. Community Empowerment: We employ local adolescent girls and women within the specific area of manufacturing which in turn improves the learning process and enhances economic status within the society. Localized Production: This is because the operations of distribution and marketing are centralized within the target demographic, being culturally sensitive to the population base it serves.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Skilling girls to make re-usable sanitary pads, Killing girls with business knowledge, Enrolling Out Of School girls back to school.