The Pachamama Project is an organisation growing a network of volunteers around the world to make reusable sanitary pads for refugees and vulnerable people dealing with period poverty.
You´ll be sewing reusable sanitary pads for refugees and vulnerable people who experience period poverty. Anyone with a sewing machine and a bit of time can get involved with our 0-committment, beginners-friendly sewing project and make a lasting impact.
We provide picture instructions and a video tutorial on how to make the pads. We also provide a guide on how to source fabric for free, from your local community and fabric companies to save off cuts, end of rolls and recyclable clothing from ending up in landfill. For those who cannot source fabric locally can get some from The Pachamama Project.
If you opt in, you can join our national facebook group and-or regional whatsapp group to get advice, share your makes, and connect with the community.
Armed with our guidance and support, you make the pads from home or with friends and we´ll do the rest!
The Pachamama Project community is an amazing, supportive, kind place full of lovely people who want to use their spare time to make the lives of women, girls and people who menstruate around the world that little bit easier. You´ll get to be part of that community and have real direct impact. Our pads last 5 years and every person receives 8. So, if you make just 8 pads you are supporting one person out of period poverty. In our Uganda school project alone we´ve seen an increase in school attendance by 95%, 5 years sees these girls through the end of their education, making a world of difference to their lives and futures.
You´ll learn to sew! It´s a beginner-friendly project so if you´re picking up the sewing machine for the first time you´re in luck. You´ll also gain a global perspective of the disproportionate effect war, conflict and poverty has on women and girls. You´ll receive our updates and learn about the people we support, their lives, challenges and circumstances. You´ll gain an understanding of what it means to be a refugee in different places around the globe and how menstrual inequity is impacting gender equality.
Anyone with a sewing machine and a bit of spare time can get involed. For those wanting to get involved without a sewing machine, you can hand-sew our drawstring bags.
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