We support numerous children in the Masese slum in Jinja, providing funds for school fees and supplies. As part of this, we found that many girls end up missing a week of school a month once they reach puberty, due to a lack of inexpensive sanitary napkins. Many of these girls fall behind in school and ultimately drop out. The sanitary napkin manufacturing will help these girls stay in school to complete their educations, and will also provide employment for 4 women in the slums of Masese. Gateway Global Outreach Uganda (our NGO in Uganda) purposely rented larger office space in Jinja to house the manufacturing operation, and to store both raw material and finished product.

The documentary film, “Period. End of Sentence” that won the Oscar for Documentary Short Subject in 2019, tells the story about this situation that exists in India.  This same situation exists in Uganda, and we purchased the equipment that is depicted in the movie from Arunachalam Muruganathan, the “Pad Man” referred to in the movie.  Below is a link to the Oscar winning announcement, and another link to the IMDB listing if you would like to learn more.  The documentary is currently available on Netflix as well as other streaming venues.

Our equipment is up and running in a preliminary mode until we get final approval from the government to begin selling the napkins.  We are concurrently working with a supplier in the UK to provide the raw materials on a continual basis.

As donations are received, we would like to start-up other operations throughout Uganda.  It costs approximately $10,000 to purchase the equipment with an initial supply of raw materials, and to have it shipped to Uganda.  Once the operation starts up, it becomes self supporting.  If you feel led to give, please know that your funds are going to an incredible cause to help keep young ladies in school!  Simply go to our “Donate” page (link at the bottom of this page) and give to the “Sanitary Napkin Ministry”.  Thank you.