Donate Cloth Menstrual Pads

In many parts of the world women are literally too poor to buy disposable menstrual pads (if they even have access to them), and without means to make effective cloth pads.  They range from young women in orphanages (usually orphaned as a result of war, or diseases such as AIDS), to remote village women, to women in areas of natural disasters.  There are thousands of women in need of these basic items we consider a necessity.

Africa seems to be in the worst need, where a large number of girls stay home from school while menstruating, or just on heavy days, as they cannot afford disposable pads and the cloth rags they use are not absorbent enough to cope with the blood flow.  These girls are missing out on the benefits of school because they don't have pads.  Some are using newspaper or toilet paper in place of pads.

I find that really upsetting!

Aid agencies, as part of their care packages, often provide disposable pads for women to use, however this is really not ideal.  The main problem with giving disposable pads is that they are disposable, and supplies keep needing to be bought, and the women receiving them are left dependant on these.  In some remote areas there can even be problems with disposal of such products.

Cloth pad however, while requiring water to wash (sometimes difficult to come by in certain areas), are reusable, which makes them cost effective and does not bring the same concerns with disposal.  They also allow the women to then regain some independance, as they will then not be relying on someone else to provide these essential items on an ongoing basis.  It may even provide the inspiration to fashion their own cloth pads.

While cloth may not be appropriate for all situations, I believe it is a better choice in most situations.

So what can you do?

There are several organisations that will accept money donations to buy disposable pads, and I'm in the process of contacting aid organisations to compile a list of those that will accept donations of cloth menstrual pads.  Ideally I am looking at aid organisations that are not affiliated with religious organisations (just for my own preference as many of these preach their faith while offering aid, and I do not believe that is appropriate), and those who work closely with the women who are in most need.