MOPANI EMPOWERS 42 WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS TO PRODUCE REUSABLE SANITARY TOWELS FOR SCHOOLGIRLS

…As Kitwe and Mufulira tailoring cooperatives undergo a Build-A-Business (BAB) workshop under the Mopani STEMBody360 Catalyser Project

In 2019, UNICEF highlighted that several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including health, education, gender equality, and Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), cannot be fully achieved without investing in menstrual health and hygiene.

Studies have shown that menstrual poverty (including limited access to sanitary towels) is linked to higher rates of school dropout among young women. Other research further indicates that after three months of consistent access to sanitary materials, school attendance improved significantly, and after 5 months, academic performance also improved.

At Mopani, we see these realities in our host communities, therefore, we designed the STEMBody360 Catalyser Project to respond with practical, community-centered solutions.

One of the project’s key deliverables is to train women cooperatives to produce reusable sanitary pads, while also producing and distributing over 20,000 reusable sanitary towels to support school-going girls in need across the communities we serve.

Recently, the Mopani STEMBody360 Catalyser Project brought together 42 tailoring entrepreneurs from across Kitwe and Mufulira for an intensive Build-A-Business (BAB) Workshop held at the Kitwe Vocational Training Centre (KVTC).

The hands-on training focused on equipping participants with the commercial tools, unit economics, and value-chain strategies needed to scale their operations, while meeting project demand and ensuring long-term sustainability.

This is only the first step. Menstrual poverty is everyone’s fight and Mopani addressing it one girl at a time, turning each challenge into an opportunity for positive impact.

A special thank you to our partners, facilitators, mentors, and the Ministry of Small Medium Enterprises Development (MSME) officers for providing technical guidance that enriched the group exercises and presentations.

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