Every girl in the world deserves education, safety, and dignity. We further this goal by helping girls who would otherwise go without to have access to quality sustainable feminine hygiene solutions and awareness. We accomplish this through both direct distribution with many nonprofits, by raising awareness, by helping other organizations start their own programs and importantly, by helping impoverished communities start their own programs to supply kits and training. It’s working!

Menstruation is a normal and healthy part of life for most young girls and women. Approximately half of the female population, around 26% of the global population are of reproductive age. Most women menstruate each month for about two to seven days.

Yet, as normal as it is, menstruation is stigmatized worldwide, and many women and young girls cannot afford basic feminine products. Below is key information about menstruating women and young girls1 :

• On average, a woman menstruates for about 7 years during the span of her life (when adding up all days of menstruation).

• Many girls do not have a complete and accurate understanding of menstruation as a normal biological process.

• Poor menstrual hygiene can cause physical health risks and has been linked to reproductive and urinary tract infections. Unfortunately, many girls and women have limited to no options for affordable menstrual materials. Providing access to private facilities with water and safer low-cost menstrual materials could reduce urogenital diseases.

• Girls and women with disabilities and special needs face added challenges with menstrual hygiene. They are affected disproportionately by lacking access to toilets with water and materials to manage their period.

• Many women and girls do not have access to materials to manage their menstruation, especially in times of emergency.

• Globally, 2.3 billion people lack essential sanitation services. Yet with many challenges to understanding menstruation and sanitary access, the feminine hygiene market, which includes tampons, pads, menstrual cups, and other vaginal health and wellness products, makes up a substantial share of the worldwide personal care market. As part of an effort to ensure equitable access to hygiene products for girls and women in Africa, Upendo Women’s Foundation was founded. Upendo Women’s Foundation is a California-based 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation that provides environmentally friendly sanitary products to women and girls in Africa. The organization currently serves girls and women in Kenya, Zanzibar, Malawi, Cameroon, South Africa and Uganda. Upendo Women’s Foundation believes they can eradicate the negative outcomes endured by many girls and women, one resource at a time.

Upendo Women’s Foundation is optimistic that its values will help drive the organization to accomplish its mission. Without any doubt, there are a considerable number of alternatives. However, Upendo Women’s Foundation will map out a unique model to help it gain acceptance and work its way to empowering people and eradicating adverse outcomes. In addition, Upendo Women’s Foundation will champion an agency-to-agency partnership strategy to reach potential participants. By utilizing this multi-channel approach, Upendo Women’s Foundation will be able to conduct its mission in its entirety and efficiently make strides towards its vision.

Our Mission:

Upendo Women’s Foundation’s mission is to create a more dignified, humane, and sustainable world for girls through advocacy, reproductive health awareness, education, and sustainable hygiene solutions because no girl should go without. Women and girls discover their potential and self value, are equal participants and agents of social change and are given opportunities to thrive, grow and contribute to their community’s betterment while ensuring quality sustainable feminine hygiene.