Huru Means Freedom East African girls who can’t afford sanitary pads very often avoid school during their periods, losing as much as an entire month each school year. The consequences are significant: girls who miss school or work fall behind, drop out or quit, perpetuating a grim cycle of poverty and gender inequality. Micato is a major donor and proud supporter of Huru, founded in 2008 by AmericaShare’s co-founder Lorna Macleod. Huru manufactures reusable sanitary pads — more than 1,600,000 to date—which have been distributed to in free Huru Kits to more than 200,000 girls in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.” But Huru Kits have proven to be a simple, sustainable, and wonderfully practical way to alleviate this worldwide problem.
44 THE MICATO ONE FOR ONE COMMITMENT
Each Huru Kit consists of a colourful drawstring backpack with eight reusable pads; three pairs of underwear; detergent-grade soap for washing pads; a resealable waterproof bag for safe storage of used pads; and educational materials on HIV prevention and reproductive and sexual health.
