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Displaying 229–240 of 275

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MEDRIX

MEDRIX works to save lives and improve the quality of life of disadvantaged people in Vietnam by providing Medical, Educational and Development Resources through International eXchange. In 2000, MEDRIX became an official non-profit organization in Washington State and in 2002 MEDRIX received official Non-Government Organization licensure to operate in Vietnam. Prior to this, co-founder and Executive Director LaRelle Catherman was invited to conduct research alongside Vietnamese physicians on home treatment for diarrhea in Hue, Vietnam. It became evident that most children suffered from diarrhea due to lack of safe water. Co-founder of MEDRIX, meteorologist, and businessman Robert Catherman undertook the task of finding a method of providing safe, drinkable water. He, along with many MEDRIX volunteers, began to work with provincial leaders to develop an affordable and sustainable water treatment system. MEDRIX began to grow as a result of these initial project ideas and new programs were put into place to address the greater healthcare, nutrition, and hygiene needs of under-served rural villages. MEDRIX accomplishes its goal of saving lives and improving the quality of life in Vietnam through the following endeavors: -Health and hygiene education for children in hand washing, oral care, and nutrition. -Providing education for women in nutrition, food preparation, food safety, along with health and hygiene during pregnancy. -Autism education training for health workers and community education efforts to ease the burden of autism in children. -Life-saving heart surgeries for disadvantaged children and young adults. -Pediatric education workshops in World Health Organization approved curricula for health workers in rural Vietnam. -Nursing education workshops for professional nurses at National Pediatric Hospital and Hue Central Hospital. -GIS mapping workshops to teach Vietnamese healthcare workers how to gather pertinent health information for epidemiological tracking purposes.

Society
Justice Rights
Health
Education
Udayan Care

Mission Appalled by the stark reality of 31 million orphans in India and shocked by the condition of institutions housing them, a few like- minded individuals got together to take serious action. This obsession was the seed which sprouted as Udayan Care, - which was registered in 1994, as a Public Charitable Trust. While our first initiative was the Udayan Ghar programme for orphaned and abandoned children, we gradually worked towards ensuring higher education for girls through the Udayan Shalini Fellowship. In 2004, Udayan Care also initiated an Outreach programme for children affected by HIV, as well as the Udayan Information and Technology Centres to improve employability of under-served communities. We began with a thorough research on existing models for children in need of care & protection and opportunities that existed for young girls, women and disadvantaged youth. What our research threw up was an eye-opener and a driving force for us to develop innovative models across all our initiatives. Needless to say, the journey had many hurdles but it is Udayan Care's dynamism that has sustained it and enabled us to expand our intervention. Our Vision: "To Regenerate the Rhythm of Life of the Disadvantaged." Our Mission: "A nurturing home for every orphaned child; an opportunity for higher education for every girl and for every adult, the dignity of self-reliance and the desire to give back to society". Our Theory of Change - "There are millions of orphaned and abandoned children in India; in addition, girls from weaker sections of society do not get an equal opportunity to continue their education; professional skills and attitude are lacking among disadvantaged communities to become economically self reliant. Udayan Care provides homes to orphaned children while also giving girls financial and development support to continue higher education, and communities to train themselves in vocations, by engaging socially committed individuals, who provide a transformative, nurturing and mentoring environment, to help them realize their full potential." In 24 years, we have served more than 21000 people in 16 cities and advocate for children's rights in alignment with the Indian Constitution, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Strategic Objectives in line with Mission and vision: 1. Provide protection and holistic growth to children in difficult circumstances. 2. Increase professional skills and employability of financially and socially disadvantaged communities. 3. Establish dynamic processes/models of Care and Protection. 4. Influence Policy Reform and decision making processes. 5. Promote Voluntarism to engage in Child Care and Development processes 6. Work towards inculcating a new world view and practice towards children in vulnerable situations 7. Develop a structured research and documentation process that can be shared with other stakeholders at national and international levels. 8. Organize adequate resources for all the programs, maintain the financial health of the organization and ensure that we work effectively as well as be cost effective. Vision 2020: 1. Set up and sustain 21 Udayan Ghars to reach out to 600 children for long-term care and support. 2. Aftercare: Sustain and develop further a very effective Aftercare programme and 'continuum of Care' for our children and youth. 3. Support 7,400 Udayan Shalini Fellows in 19 chapters. 4. Develop and sustain 16 Information Technology and Skill Centres to enhance employability and knowledge under-served communities. 5. Acquire adequate number of Mentor Parents for Udayan Ghars and Mentors for Udayan Shalini Fellowships in keeping with expansion. 6. Involve more interns from prestigious universities and experienced corporate volunteers. 7. Set up a Resource Centre for training of Caregivers & roll out Advocacy Programmes on Child Rights, particularly for those in alternative care. 8. Promote the replication of Standard Operating Procedures derived from Udayan Care's best practices for sharing with other similar NGOs and for application across all Udayan Care programmes.

Society
Justice Rights
Health
Environment
Education
Disaster Relief
Imkaan Welfare Organisation

"No child's life shall be curtailed by the circumstances of his or her birth because each one deserves absolute love and infinite opportunity to grow" Established in 2012, our fundamental purpose is to deliver those without means into this world safely and render them to a loving family securely. To provide and ensure quality healthcare, education, and recreation to all children, is our broader initiative. We have due to the support of donor organizations made progress by leaps and bounds. Our presence in Machar Colony has helped the community in providing them with services that are the basic right of every individual. Following are the projects that we have initiated in Machar Colony: 1. Khel- A learning and rereational centre for children in Machar colony, which solely focus on providing a learning space, a play area and a secure environment for children who work at night in shrimp peeling factories and are found gambling or aimlessly roaming the streets in the day time. 2. Sehat Ghar- a maternal and child health clinic under the name Sehat Ghar and since its inception in 2014 has treated 45,000+ patients for Hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, water-borne diseases, scabies, respiratory disorders and diabetes. Our program is working with expectant mothers and newborn children and is enabling the community through various medical camps in order to make informed decisions regarding health, family planning and child birth. The three room clinic has an ultrasound facility and a running labor room for expectant mothers. 3. Pasban-e-Mauhal- An environmentally friendly initiative focusing on solid waste management and waste disposal. A garbage loader and two sanitary workers have been assigned under this project which go door-to-door and collect waste. 4. Imkaan Ghar- A shelter for abandoned babies. Imkaan Ghar shelters babies that are rescued and are provided healthcare and a safe home until adopted by forever families.

Society
Justice Rights
Sarah's Circle

Sarah’s Circle provides a full continuum of services for women, including housing, life necessities, and supportive services, to help them permanently end their homelessness. In 1979, three women in the Uptown neighborhood saw the plight of women who were homeless. They were often cold and seeking shelter, hungry, highly vulnerable, and alone. Sarah’s Circle was started with compassion and spirit of service, and our agency continues to be a safe, welcoming place for women experiencing homelessness. With our resources and services, women are able to access shelter, food, showers, community, and more. From our humble beginning, Sarah’s Circle has grown to become an agency providing a full continuum of services, but our purpose remains the same. We serve women who are homeless, with a focus on transitioning women from homelessness into permanent housing. After over 40 years of service, Sarah’s Circle is still growing to meet the needs of women. With the continued loss of affordable housing in our communities, over 2,000 women in Chicago will be homeless tonight. Sarah’s Circle is increasingly focused on permanent supportive housing solutions for these women. Sarah’s Circle is working to meet this challenge with a new facility, Sarah’s on Sheridan. In this new location, Sarah’s Circle provides 38 units of Permanent Supportive Housing, more program space and an Interim Housing Program. Sarah’s Circle is dedicated to providing permanent housing solutions for women in Chicago. The work we do 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, could not happen without the steadfast support of our donors and volunteers. Our supporters play a key role in providing the meals, community structure, and life necessities that make Sarah’s Circle a home for hundreds of women throughout the year. It is with your help that we will continue to end homelessness for women in Chicago. Sarah’s Circle serves all women and those who identify as women (trans women). We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, military and veteran status or disability.

Society
Justice Rights
Health
Susan B. Anthony Center, Inc.

“Transform families by providing help, hope, and healing for mothers and their children to live responsible drug-free lives.” Created from the vision of a small group of women in the Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale in 1995, The Susan B. Anthony Recovery Center has grown from one group home, housing five mothers and six children, to a beautiful 5.5 acre campus in Pembroke Pines with the capacity to serve over sixty families. In addition, through satellite campuses, we are increasing our capacity to serve many more. Our ultimate goals are the removal of barriers for women entering addiction treatment, the prevention of foster care placement for their children, and an end to the cycle of addiction and abuse for families. Since we began in 1995, Susan B. Anthony Recovery Center has helped to reunify over 850 families and has provided the intensive services necessary to stop the cycle of family dysfunction and substance addiction for over 1500 children. One of the largest barriers to entry for mothers seeking treatment is child placement. At the center we focus on supporting both the mother and child(ren). We reduce or eliminate family risk factors by promoting a positive sense of self, delivering individual and group counseling services, providing peer group activities, maintaining well defined structure and offering many opportunities for support. Most importantly, we strive to stop the cycle of addiction by providing the most important protective factor of all, a healthy parent intervening on behalf of the child(ren) during their early development. For nearly 20 years we have done amazing work. Yet, prescription pain killers and heroin use is on the rise, despite the efforts of many. The negative effects to our community are compounded when the addict is a mother and her children are at risk of neglect and abuse. Often, children who are prenatally exposed to drugs or alcohol are also at a high risk for emotional and behavioral challenges. Without intervention, these children are much more likely to become addicts themselves, some in their early teens.

Society
Justice Rights
Health
Education
Fundacion Helping Hands-La Paz (Bolivia)

The mission of the Fundacion Helping Hands-La Paz (Bolivia) is to open up educational opportunities for marginalized and vulnerable Bolivian youth of scarce economic resources so that they may complete a programme of studies to become technicians or university graduates. Education is the focus of the Fundacion Helping Hands -La Paz (Bolivia), and we hope to broaden the horizons of our young people by providing new experiences and activities. Helping Hands works with several orphanages, social projects and international organizations to give these young people the opportunity to educate themselves and become more productive and responsible citizens. In particular we work with girls who, traditionally, have been marginalized as far as upper education is concerned. Our project began in an informal way in 2004 to give support to the 48 boys who had to leave the state boys' home at the age of 18 and they had not yet finished high school. We provided rent support, school materials, moral support and help with documentation so that the boys could finish high school. The project grew to include studies in technical schools and universities when the boys had finished high school and in 2006 we expanded to include girls from the many social projects in La Paz and El Alto. In 2014 our project was formalized with the creation of the Fundacion Helping Hands - La Paz (Bolivia) and we now support 100 students from the ages of 15 to 25 of which 65% were girls in 2017. The Fundacion Helping Hands-La Paz (Bolivia) also provides medical and dental care for the students to insure their permanency in their programmes of study. There is no universal health care in Bolivia, and the costs of health care can be devastating for those lacking economic resources. Students are required to attend monthly meetings where we provide talks on many themes of interest to young people in order to provide a more integral personal development. We invite speakers in the areas of education in reproductive health, the environment, values, general health, living without violence, and written expression. We organize outings to museums and other cultural activities. We feel that in order for an underdeveloped country to progress it must provide education for all of its citizens. Education is one of the keys to eradicating poverty.

Society
Justice Rights
Health
CCI Health & Wellness Services

CCI Health & Wellness Services is a group practice, empowering patients to partner with staff for an unparalleled healthcare experience. Through integrated teams in a learning environment, we deliver high quality, affordable, care to every patient during all stages of life. The CCI Adolescent Services provides teens and young adults (ages 12-35) in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area with affordable, timely and culturally-competent direct clinical care and educational outreach services. Our goal is to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancies, as well as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Our Adolescent Health Service line of care tailors our clinical, education and outreach services to reflect the greatest community need and reduce barriers to ensure all teens and young adults are able to access preventive, comprehensive reproductive health services. Both in the community-education and clinical settings, CCI's focus is 100% on prevention in order to avoid more monetarily, medically, socially and emotionally costly intervention services. Direct Clinical Care- Quality Care: CCI serves as a reproductive medical home for patients ages 12-35 by providing a wide range of evidence based clinical services. Affordable: CCI works with every patient, regardless of income level or insurance status, to ensure they have access to reproductive healthcare. Comfortable: CCI provides a warm environment, where patients feel each staff member respects their individuality and is committed to their wellbeing and overall health outcomes. Accessible: Appointments are regularly available (including walk-ins) for all services; clinics are easily accessible by car, bus or metro; and all methods of contraception are available for purchase on site. Integrated Care: Medical staff, case managers and social workers collaborate to ensure continuity of care for each patient, including referrals and access to community resources. Education and Outreach -Outreach: CCI identifies members of the community at greatest risk and actively recruits them through community activities, educational presentations and partnerships with related organizations. Education: CCI provides in-clinic and community based educational interventions designed to increase knowledge, build skills and reduce risk to promote positive and responsible reproductive health behaviors.

Society
Justice Rights
Education
Girls Education Mission International

Girls Education Mission International was emerged out of a pressing need among young women and girls who face gender-based discrimination and are therefore deprived of education and training opportunities to attain a better life. As a non profit, non-governmental organization aim for the betterment of humanity particularly the life of the Girl child, Girls Education Mission International envisions a World where girls become Women of Integrity, Vision and Impact. We want to see girls and women creating change and making lasting impact in their respective communities. We are on a mission to reach out to and advance the circumstances of girls who are not provided with strong motivation to reach potentials. We have a global mandate to establish empowered teams of young women and girls with relevant knowledge and practical skills that will enable them transform their lives and influencing their communities for good. We are intentionally inspired to equip girls to pass forward what they have learned, becoming productive citizens and visionary leaders capable of shaping sustainable society. Thus our motto "To be Willing, Equipped and Available.." Dreamt and begun in 2007, Girls Education Mission International was officially registered in 2011 in Nigeria with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with registration number (CAC/IT/NO 45818). It was also registered with the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with registration number (RN:SC 321400084). Despite improvements in global and national laws and policies that provide the normative framework for women to advance their rights, it is imperative to acknowledge that a vast number of girls continue to experience violence and gender discrimination at home, in schools and in their communities especially when it comes to getting an education. As part of our smart and creative strategy to better the lives of humanity, we are committed to eradicating poverty, building peace and creating sustainable impact among young women and girls using education to achieve this aim. We believe that girls education and empowerment is the vital tool to harness innovation to improvise novel solution that are not only smart and creative but also more effective, efficient and just in achieving demonstrable results when it comes to tackling the challenges continue to face globally. GEM works directly with girls, parents, teachers, and community leaders, all of whom are the ultimate drivers and stewards of meaningful change for themselves, their families and their communities.

Society
Science
Justice Rights
Health
Environment
Education
Disaster Relief
Art
Animals
Waqful Waqifin Foundation (Gift of the Givers Foundation)

To promote, encourage and project these principles in all its dimensions, within and beyond South Africa's borders. To benefit all of creation, in keeping with these principles, including service to plant, animal , environment and all of humanity irrespective of race, religion, colour, culture, political affiliation or geographical boundary. This service to be conducted in a non-judgemental manner. To uphold the dignity and honour of man, striving to make him self-sufficient and independent at the time of crisis or otherwise; (man refers to both genders where appropriate). To be gender sensitive and to take a special interest in the care of children , orphans , women , physically and mentally challenged individuals and the elderly . Without derogating from the generality of the aforegoing the activities of the Foundation , inter alia , include: Disaster management and humanitarian aid delivery in crises whether natural or man-made including floods, cyclones, hurricanes, earthquakes , tornado, accidents and war; Establishment of medical facilities , clinics and hospitals; Delivery of medicines and medical equipment; Establishment of feeding schemes, food parcel delivery and poverty relief programmes including assistance with burial and funeral arrangements, provision of new and used clothing, blankets and baby milk powder; Provision of boreholes, waterwells and water purification tablets; Provision of free telephonic and face-face counselling services in matters of depression, drug abuse, relationship problems, HIV/AIDS, marital discord, parenting, learning difficulties, teenage problems, child abuse, domestic violence, maintenance grants, etc. ; Establishment of Drug Rehab Centres and Havens for the abused; women and children in particular; Establishment of orphanages and old age homes; Provision of wheelchairs, hearing aids, braille machines and any such equipment and aids to assist physically and mentally challenged individuals; Provision of Life Skills training; empowerment counselling and skills in counselling; Establishment of skills development programmes, entrepreneul skills and job creation projects; Promoting South Africa as a means to encourage tourism, investment and further job creation initiatives; Provision of agricultural implements and Farmer's Packs (seeds, fertiliser , LAN, etc.) to promote food security and self sustainability; Establishment of educational institutions whether religious or secular; Provision of bursaries, textbooks, stationery, computers, technology workshops and other educational support; Establishment of places of worship including a tekke (meeting place for dervishes or disciples); Promotion of peace, tolerance, understanding, love, mercy and inter-faith dialopue between people, communities, cultures and religions; Promotion of faith, spirituality and religious awareness ; Establishment of community radio, television and media to assist with all the above principles; Support of artists who can promote all the above principles through song , writings, etc.

Society
Justice Rights
Save the Children Association Iasi

Save the Children Iasi is a nongovernmental organization, democratic, independent, non-profit, politically and religiously unconditioned, created in 1991, member of the International Save the Children Alliance. Ever since its beginnings it adhered to the childrenas rights protection movement in Romania, according to the United Nationsa Convention on Childrenas Rights. Our vision, in a general understanding, is to create a world where all the rights of children are respected. Save the Children acts for a world: - where every child is appreciated and respected; - that listens and learns from the children; - where every child has hopes and perspectives; - where every child is protected against any kind of violence, abuse and exploitation. Mission: Save the Children Association Iasi acts for respect for childrenas rights and for modifying the politics and legislation in childrenas benefit, by organizing awareness campaigns and by supporting children in need. We acknowledge and emphasize the responsibilities of the parents, legal guardians, teachers and other authorities that act in childrenas interest. We support the parents and the specialists working with children to fulfill their obligations. Save the Children Association Iasi, through the programs it implemented, developed expertise related to the following categories of children: - physically, sexually and psychologically abused children; - trafficked children; - economically exploited children; - children alone at home (that have at least one parent abroad, working); - children that had their legal rights trespassed; - children affected by poverty; - children that abandoned school or are in risk of dropping out school. Also, beneficiaries of our programs are: - parents and relatives of the children or the persons that take care of them; - specialists (psychologists, medics, social workers, teachers. policemen, judges, prosecutors, etc.); - institutions and NGOs that work in the field of child protection. The main activities consist in: - promoting childrenas rights in society, in general, and in institutions with attributions in childrenas education and protection; - psychological, social and emotional counseling for the beneficiaries of the organization, parents and children; - school integration and/or reintegration for children in need; - guidance for children and their families to specialized public services (in areas such as education, health, public administration, etc.); - complex social assistance services (guidance and accompaniment in making the ID papers for children and adults that do not have such papers, social inquiries at the request of public institutions, material support, etc.); - street educational and social activities in disadvantaged communities; - school recovery activities in a day care centre, play and socialization activities; - counseling for abused children; - professional development and informing activities for specialists involved in child protection (magistrates, policemen, social workers, psychologists, teachers, probation counselors, etc.).

Society
Justice Rights
Breakthrough Trust

Breakthrough is a unique global human rights organization and a recognized pioneer of innovative social change. Working out of centers in the U.S. and India, we create game-changing pop culture and multimedia campaigns - including video games and music videos - that bring human rights issues and values into the mainstream, making them real, relevant, and urgent to individuals and communities worldwide. Our in-depth trainings with young people, government officials, and community groups have ignited new generations of leaders to act for local and global human rights. Our most internationally-lauded program to date, Bell Bajao ("Ring the Bell"), calls on men worldwide to take concrete action to challenge violence against women and challenges them to take a stand against domestic violence. Together with emerging campaigns challenging early marriage and gender biased sex-selective elimination, our current initiatives seek to build a culture in which women's human rights thrive, enabling us all to be safe in our homes and limitless in our ambitions. Vision: A world where violence and discrimination against women and girls is unacceptable. Where all individuals and communities live with dignity, equality and justice. Mission: Our mission is to prevent violence against women and girls by transforming the norms and cultures that enable it. We carry out this mission by building a critical mass of change agents worldwide-the Breakthrough Generation-whose bold collective action will deliver irreversible impact on the issue of our time. Breakthrough is unique in its strategy - that of combining a sophisticated media campaign with grass-roots community mobilization efforts - to bring issues of human rights to mainstream audiences. Our five-pronged approach seeks to prevent and combat violence against women and effect behavior change by focusing on changing hearts, minds and actions of individuals and other actors to create social change and bring human rights home. For Breakthrough, 'individuals and other actors' could include a corporate entity, a non-governmental organization, state or other community actors, in addition to people who are agents of social change. How we Breakthrough? Breakthrough has a five-pronged approach through which we work towards our vision. These five strategies are highly integrated and should be understood as connected to one another at multiple levels. Breakthrough, in partnership with others, engages large audiences, particularly youth, through the power of attractive, persuasive and cutting edge media, popular culture and arts. We combine this use of media with on the ground and virtual community mobilization. Breakthrough then makes this approach and the lessons learned available to others. By doing this we catalyze broad public engagement, change social norms, and influence the public agenda. Breakthrough's five pronged strategy includes: 1. Create Public Dialogue through media, popular culture and varied forms of cultural expression - Breakthrough makes uses media, arts and culture to transform hearts, minds and actions. This includes the complete range of cultural expression from video to twitter to poetry to street theater. Breakthrough's 360-degree media campaign comprises of television and radio spots, print media, video vans, digital and social media like websites, blogs, facebook and twitter and mobile phones. Pro-bono partnerships with major advertising agencies to develop the campaign and with the government agencies to disseminate campaigns further leverage mainstream resources and create new audiences and stakeholders to support the issue. 2. Leadership Development - Breakthrough combines its mainstream communication and messaging strategy with leadership facilitation. It trains people from varied and diverse backgrounds and communities (such as youth from marginalized backgrounds, local leaders and opinion makers, service providers, staff of government agencies, teachers, health workers) to convey knowledge, share ideas and to reshape individual and community attitudes to VAW. The more intensive work done on the ground brings in new partners and gives depth to the media messages. Breakthrough, through its Rights Advocacy (RA) Training Program strengthens the ability of youth, community leaders and non-profit groups to become effective change agents in their own domains and enable individuals to act as human rights promoters and defenders. 3. Mobilize Communities, both on the ground and virtually - Breakthrough, along with trained Community Based Organizations/ NGOs /Stakeholders / Gatekeepers, undertakes community mobilization against VAW. The rights-based training attempts to change the attitudes and behaviour of the trainee and equip them to mobilize their communities to respect women and prevent and combat violence. Mobilization could include shifting mindsets, building awareness in communities, transforming individuals and other actors into advocates to take action to prevent abuse or demand redress for a violation, or advocating for policy changes to facilitate the promotion of peaceful and just societies. Breakthrough's edutainment tools and media messages are shared by the trained Rights Advocates at various community events and forums. Online community mobilization activities include micro campaigns, blogs, tweets etc, encouraging greater public participation, especially among youth. 4. Catalyze Partnerships across sectors and constituencies - Breakthrough partners with a wide range of individuals, entities and other actors to affect large-scale reach and impact, as well as leverage creative talent and critical thinking. Partnerships are strategic and

Society
Justice Rights
Health
Education
Femme International

Femme International is committed to using education, conversation & distribution to break down the global menstrual taboo. Menstruation affects 51% of the world's population, with every woman experiencing menses during her lifetime. For menstruators in low-income communities, getting your period presents a set of specific challenges - poor access to menstrual products, oppressive taboos, lack of adequate hygiene facilities, and lack of reproductive health education. 83% of girls in Burkina Faso, and 77% in Nigeria (UNICEF) have no place to clean themselves at school, and will therefore leave early. The World Bank has estimated that girls will miss 10-20% of her education because of her body's natural cycle. Femme believes that providing adolescent girls not only with reusable menstrual products, but also comprehensive education, empowers them to feel in control of their bodies, and breaks down the menstrual taboo. When women lack access to sanitary pads, either by financial constraints or lack of availability, they will use alternative methods. In India, 88% of menstruating women use homemade methods. In Tanzania, the most common method is to use rags, or cloth, folded into the underwear - something women have been doing for centuries. However, when the cloth is not washed properly, used when damp, or shared among sisters, it becomes unsafe. Other homemade methods common in Tanzania include foam mattress stuffing, newspaper, leaves, even mud. These methods are not safe or hygienic, and they are uncomfortable, preventing girls from being able to concentrate or participate in school. They also don't help girls feel comfortable during a week when they are already feeling ashamed of their bodies. Unsafe menstrual management is a leading cause of reproductive tract infections (UTIs, yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis), which when untreated can cause more serious health concerns. The decision to use and promote reusable products is because sanitary pads are unaffordable for many women. The average cost of a package of 8 pads in Tanzania is approximately $1/day, which is often the same as the daily wage for an unskilled labourer. For a 14-year old girl, she will rarely feel comfortable asking the male breadwinner for this money, and they will rarely be able to provide her with it. A study in Kenya indicated that one in ten girls aged 15 had engaged in transactional sex to purchase pads. In rural Tanzania, or even urban centers, there is no method of garbage disposal beyond burning. Many women report burying their products, but must do so far away from their homes because of the perceived destructive powers of menstrual blood. The environmental impact of disposable menstrual products is staggering, and unsustainable, both financially and environmentally. The Twaweza Project is simple - and it works. Preliminary M&E reports demonstrate significant impact, including improved academic results and attendance, improved self-confidence, reduction of financial stress, and improved health. Adolescent beneficiaries are two times less likely to report symptoms of bacterial vaginosis.