Patterns for washable and re-usable sanitary pads
These were designed so that I could use any materials that were available very cheaply in Uganda and, made by the girls themselves, 13 years ago my husband Mike and I started a school in Uganda and only realised 4 years ago when a friend of ours went to visit the school that the older girls were missing school for 4-5 days every month, we realised immediately what the problem was, but as menstruation is a taboo subject in the villages and many girls did not know what was happening to them we were not made aware of the problem. Our friend spoke to the girls and found that the only protection they had was old bits of rag and in some cases just grass, I knew something had to be done but realised that by making and just sending out a few pads myself was not the answer as this is a long term problem, so I went out to the school armed with patterns, materials and machines and taught the girls how to make the pads themselves and also how to make panties as one is no good without the other and this was yet another problem, they had no underwear, since doing this we now have full attendance at school and the project has been taken out to many other schools in the area, giving many girls back their dignity thanks to an NGO who has taken it on, but my girls have also managed to make a small business from this earning small monies for their families and I have since been back to the school and helped them set up a shop where they not only make and sell the pads and underwear but make and design clothes, making a big difference to them their families and the community.
I hope that by putting this on the website many more young girls can be helped. If you need any more information please let me know.
Thanks for thinking of this
Linda Willetts
D19
Please click on this link for Pattern A
Please click on this link for Pattern B
Please click on the below links for each individual coloured pattern –
For a different pattern please contact Marion Tasker
Update on Washable sanitary pad project
Update on the Washable Sanitary Pad Projects
Following the initial workshop at Project Luangwa in Mfuwe, Zambia I was encouraged by the First Lady of Zambia to introduce the workshop into the villages. Getting to some villages was hard, wading across crocodile infested river, and living conditions sometimes quite primitive with no running water or electricity, not to mention utterly basic toilet facilities, but the village ladies were enthusiastic to learn. All the pads were given to local schoolgirls free of charge but due to lack of constant supervision these workshops were not sustainable.
In 2018 a more professional workshop was set up in the city of Lusaka supervised by NPAC Zambia. From here, up to now 52,000 pads have been made and distributed to almost 10,500 girls free of charge. In 2025, with sponsorship from an American charity, the aim is to make a further 30,000 pads. That’s a further 6,000 schoolgirls will benefit and be enabled to attend school full time.
In Malawi we have introduced workshop in Mangochi District and Blantyre. In Kitui Secondary School, Zambia a class was introduced into the curriculum, so the girls and boys learned how to make the pads. 700 ladies, in the local prison who had no access to hygiene facilities were extremely grateful to be provided with pads from the Lusaka workshop.
Two years ago, I was invited by the Ist Lady of Zanzibar to set up a workshop for her Foundation to administer. We began with 3 girls and one boy. Today they have a larger team sewing and over a thousand girls have received pads mostly presented by Her Excellency herself.
This year I returned to visit several workshops and to set up 2 new ones in Tanzania at Dodoma and Dar es Salaam. These have been instigated by Members of Parliament so I have high hopes that they will be successful.
And finally, long distance learning. I was approached by some ladies from Dublin who wished to learn how to make the washable sanitary pads. I sent them my printed instructions and pattern and advised on the fabric. They have now set up a workshop in Lesotho. Similarly, a lady in Uganda has now a workshop there.
Also – Rotary Aquabox (my only English workshop) have a team of ladies making the pads to put in their boxes The first 100 packs of which will be going to Nepal before Christmas.
Future plans are to visit India next year to see what we can do there for Cheryle Berry’s Hope Village.
Marion Tasker (Chairman NPAC)
District 22
marion@taskerpartnership.co.uk
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