RESCUWS

Back to Girl empowerment

RESCUWS = Run dedicated to Emelina Sipumise through the Communities Unifying Women in Sustainability

Sustainable living is part of the ethos of Malilangwe, and taking sustainability beyond our borders to the future women in our communities is a start to growing environmental awareness.

Started in 2022, RESCUWS was borne from the simple, yet dramatic realisation that 72% of girls living in rural Zimbabwe do not have access to proper sanitary wear and as a result, 62% of girls miss school every month, which results in girls having depleted education and limits their employment opportunities in the future.

RESCUWS is funded solely on donations, and it is through these generous donations and partnerships that we are able to source and distribute washable sanitary pads to girls, while educating them in health, hygiene and caring for the environment. The short-term impact of this project is improved education and better health for the girls, while long-term, it prepares them for furthering their education, or finding employment, as well as living more sustainably.

RESCUWS 2022 was made possible through the dedication of Chloe, a student, who committed to raise awareness and funding for the project by running through the surrounding communities. Chloe trained for the best part of a year and fulfilled her commitment, running for ten days through various terrains and conditions, supported by Malilangwe scouts, staff, friends and family who ran, walked and cycled alongside her. Donations enabled us to support a small business enterprise of four women who sewed the pads with locally sourced materials over eight months. In 2022 we were able to supply 956 girls and 36 teachers with reusable pads. During distribution days we were made aware of the needs for underwear for the girls to be able to use their washable sanitary pads properly. We were also enlightened about the need for access to clean water at the schools’ ablutions and learned that boys are affected similarly with their needs for underwear, and to be involved in similar talks about health, hygiene and sustainability.

In 2023, through a generous donation of 300 pairs of panties from ROAR Africa, further donations to our project, and a link to Afripads, we were able to provide underwear to half of the 806 girls who received a pack each of Afripads school girl kits, (a set of five washable sanitary pads). It is our hope to be able to include boys in our talks and underwear distributions, and to explore the prospects of introducing rainwater harvesting tanks at school ablutions.

The use of reusable sanitary pads has several benefits:

how it benefits the environment

  • Longevity – instead of disposable pads, we wanted to provide something that would be longer lasting
  • RESCUWS pads are a tangible start for creating environmental awareness and sustainable practices amongst future women
  • By owning reusable pads, girls are contributing to no litter and no air pollution by discarding or burning sanitary products
  • Distribution of the pads includes an educational talk on environmental awareness and sustainability

how it benefits the girls

  • Continue going to school while on their menstrual cycle with the reassurance of the cloth pads – improved attendance and education
  • Not have the disgrace of carrying water buckets in front of the school to go and wash themselves during their monthly cycles
  • Not have the physical discomfort of using alternatives (rags, leaves, cattle dung) to sanitary products which cause rashes and other skin conditions
  • Not have the embarrassment of asking family/guardians for money for sanitary products

Feedback from the girls:

“My confidence and concentration at school has improved. I am proud of the washable pads. I didn’t afford to buy sanitary pads they were very expensive. Whenever the month started, I was so desperate on what to use but now I can sleep well at night knowing that l am covered that side.”

“I am very grateful for the washable sanitary pads you gave us because we managed to overcome one of our worst challenges of menstrual poverty. Because of that, we no longer have fear concerning our menstruation period and we are now proud of being the way we are.”

“l would like to express my gratitude and appreciation for the wonderful thing that you did for every girl at my school. You indeed boosted our confidence, and we are now comfortable around others.”

How can you help?

  • One schoolgirl kit of 5 reusable pads costs US$5. $1,000 could supply 200 girls with washable sanitary pads for a year.

  • US$5 could buy two sets of girls underwear. $1,000 could purchase 400 sets of girls underwear.

Donate today

Inspiration and determination

Emelina Sipumise – an empowered woman who invested wisely, offered counsel and encouragement to women to pursue their dreams. Emelina was a cherished friend and valued Malilangwe employee for 21 years. Emelina’s honesty about her own experiences as a young girl who grew up in rural Zimbabwe gave us insight into the challenges girls still face today – the physical, emotional, mental and financial stigmas associated with menstrual health and how they negatively affect girls having a proper education. It was against this background that RESCUWS was formed. Sadly, Emelina passed away in December 2021, and we honour her with this project.

Chloe Payne – a university student on an internship at Malilangwe, was moved by the difficulties that rural Zimbabwean girls face every month. Chloe’s vision was to run through the communities surrounding Malilangwe to create awareness and funding. In August 2022, Chloe ran 10km every day for 10 days through the communities, supported by friends, family and Malilangwe staff who ran and cycled alongside her. With Chloe’s determination, funds were raised for RESCUWS to introduce reusable sanitary wear to the girls in these communities.