graziella@friendsofhumanity.ch is organizing this fundraiser.
Set up a production of affordable, organic and compostable Sanitary Pads to meet women needs primarily in Mahama Refugee Camp, Rwanda.
In a nutshell
This project intends to bring affordable sanitary pads for around 19’000 women living in the Mahama refugee camp, by setting up a production line operated by women themselves.
The problem
Thousands of girls and women (over 60’000) live in Rwanda in refugee camps as a result of regional wars in neighboring Burundi and in the Democratic Republic of Congo. When they menstruate, they do not have access to affordable sanitary pads, they often use a piece of cloth or rag and water is lacking; these unhygienic conditions cause vaginal infections, skin irritations and often embarrassing stains in public. This is not only a problem in the camps: there are 2.8 Mio menstruating women and girls in Rwanda and pads are not widely used. Reportedly 18% miss school regularly when they menstruate. The Government recognized this as an issue and recently lifted the taxes for sanitary pads, to promote their use.
The goal of this project is to provide women and girls living in Mahama refugee camp an affordable solution to their hygienic needs when menstruating, by creating a sustainable production of sanitary pads by women for women. The wider scope of the project is to extend the availability of affordable sanitary pads in Rwanda also to women and girls outside the camp as well in other camps.
The project aims to be self-sufficient from the second half of 2026.
PridenoShame June 2020.
Uzima report
Pridenoshame presentation
PrideNoShame 2023
Pride No Shame Report 2024
Project Report | Sep 16, 2025
Strategic Collaboration for Women’s Health
We are happy to announce that Friends of Humanity (FOH) has partnered with the Rucci Legacy Foundation (RLF). Together, we will expand the Pride No Shame (PNS) program to better support women and girls in Rwanda by improving access to organic and affordable sanitary pads. This collaboration builds on our shared commitment to women’s health, empowerment, and innovation in sanitary pad production.
As part of this partnership, we plan to replace the current manual production machine due to a lack of spare parts and to reduce the high costs of importing raw materials from India. FOH is actively working to expand sanitary pad production and explore opportunities to increase both capacity and quality.
At this stage, we are in discussions with European sanitary pad producers to learn from their expertise, explore potential collaborations, and identify the most suitable production machinery and high-quality raw materials. Through these conversations, we aim to gather the knowledge and resources necessary to make informed decisions that will strengthen the PNS program and better serve women and girls in Rwanda.
Currently, PNS employs seven staff members under contract. During this transition phase—which includes procurement of equipment, sourcing raw materials, and site preparation—the production team will visit schools and communities to create awareness on menstrual health and share importance of organic sanitary pads usage.
Messi
Pride No Shame continues to support Messi, the son of one of our employees, who is living with a severe spinal condition. We are pleased to share that with monthly nutritional support, Messi’s weight has increased to 16 kg, which is 4 kg more than before. After two hospital stays, physiotherapy sessions, and a period of recovery at home, Messi is feeling stronger and happier—just have a look at his progress!
The next step in Messi’s care will be a visit to King Faisal Hospital, the largest hospital in Rwanda, to explore the possibility of spinal surgery. We are hopeful that they will assess his condition and advise on potential surgical options.
In the meantime, Pride No Shame has purchased a wheelchair to help Messi and his grandmother with daily mobility and activities, ensuring he can move safely and comfortably.
We sincerely thank our dear donors for continued support. Your contributions make life-changing initiatives like Messi’s care possible. Please continue to donate and help us bring hope and dignity to more woman, children and families in need.
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