Lucy Odiwa, the owner of a Tanga-based micro-enterprise, Salama Pads, was over the moon last year when she received an email informing her that her enterprise had won the global
SDGs and Her Competition.
Over 1,200 entries from 88 countries had been submitted and hers won first place.
The contest, co-sponsored by the World Bank Group, the Wharton School Zicklin Center, UNDP, and UN Women, recognises women micro-entrepreneurs who are helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Salam Pads is geared towards empowering girls and women in rural Tanzania by promoting menstrual health hygiene management.
“Salama Pads is a pro-women social enterprise which aims at reducing social physiological distress in women. We make reusable sanitary towels to promote menstrual health hygiene management,” says the mother of two.
The fact that menstruation is surrounded by taboo, viewed as shameful and less talked about, is what prompted Lucy to do something to help girls and women. Her first menstrual experience is not something she would wish anyone to go through.
