Women Empowerment Program in Jalimo, Kajo-Keji County CES, South Sudan
Photo above: Ladies practicing knowledge and skills of making reusable sanitary pads after training
ACROSS in partnership with Divine Seeds of Dignity (DSD), with funding from Parishioners of St Marks Church Kennington in the United Kingdom, have trained 48 young mothers and teenage girls, South Sudanese returnees from refugee camps in Uganda, with practical skills to produce reusable sanitary pads using locally available materials. The participants are residents of Jalimo, Kajo-Keji County Central Equatoria State, South Sudan.
Menstruation remains a taboo subject in many African communities, often viewed as shameful or inappropriate for public discussion. This stigma, combined with poverty and lack of access to menstrual products, forces many girls to use unsafe alternatives like rags, leading to infections, school absenteeism, and early pregnancies.
The training workshop addressed these challenges head-on, offering a safe space for dialogue and skill-building. Participants shared testimonies of past hardships and expressed joy at learning to make their own pads—free from chemicals, soft, and sustainable.
The participants were trained on the Pad making process including: Material Mapping Cutting & Arranging, Pinning & Sewing and Finishing Touches,
By the end of the training the participants were able to:
- Understand the importance of dignity kits in promoting health, safety, and self-worth.
- Identify culturally appropriate materials for pad-making.
- Learn the standard components of a dignity kit, including hygiene items.
- Gain hands-on experience in assembling kits and applying quality control measures.
One participant called Winnie, a vibrant and committed participant from the first training cohort, now plays a key role in mobilizing new groups for the ongoing dignity kit initiative. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to “our beloved mother” (Mama Jane), whose leadership and compassion have brought smiles and relief to many young mothers. On behalf of her peers, Winnie offered prayers of thanks to the Almighty for enabling a second phase of training.
“We feel so relieved from the burden of buying menstrual pads. Most of us cannot afford them, and the little money we have goes to basic needs like food and soap. Now, we are free from monthly stress. Even our husbands say they feel relieved from that burden.”
Winnie and others emphasized the need for additional support in the form of startup materials. With these, they hope to produce pads not only for personal use but also for sale—creating income and fostering self-reliance. They also celebrated the health benefits of reusable pads, noting that they are chemical-free and reduce the risk of infections.