ADDIS ABABA – The reusable sanitary pad making training provided to women and girls by Japan Cooperation Agency (JICA) is impactful to improve hygiene and livelihood, so said trainees.
With sewing machines donated by the Japanese government, JICA Ethiopia is providing Ethiopian girls and women with trainings on how to make and use reusable sanitary napkins at Selam Children’s Village, to improve hygiene and livelihood.
One of the beneficiaries of the training, fashion designer Ikrem Bahiru, recently told The Ethiopian Herald that JICA Ethiopia helped her to get fee free sanitary pad production training.
“We are set to complete the training on sewing women sanitary pads from the initial to the final stage in one month,” she said.
After completing the training, the women can work individually to achieve their ambitions and bring sustainable changes in their lives. “I have a plan to start my own business after the training,” Ikrem expressed.
Another trainee Misikir Dinku, noted that the training helped the women to know how to cut sanitary pads pattern, prepare and sew it.
It is significant to improve the women’s skills and enable them to be competent in producing more pads with little effort, she said.
“I have been learning sewing techniques supported by the latest technology to prepare reusable pads that are safe, comfortable and cost-effective.”
Sanitary pad production trainer, Gezahegn Asfaw on his part said that training aims to empower girls and women with knowledge and skills to manage their menstrual hygiene in a sustainable way in school or working places.
JICA facilitates the training program and supports the development of human resource in Ethiopia. He added that the sewing machine that the trainees using is new and introduced to Ethiopia recently to benefit the women that cannot afford for it.
The training targets to reach about 500 girls in five batches over a period of five months, according to Gezahegn.
“We have planned to produce to the local market and to address the beneficiary. This is the first batch and these trainees are finally expected to produce the sanitary pads,” he said.
This is an important opportunity for the nation as the trainees will improve their skills to make productive work employed in companies or start their own businesses, he added.
“We will link the trainees with industrial parks or other organizations but if they want, they can do their business,” the trainer indicated.
BY MISGANAW ASNAKE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 24 NOVEMBER 2024
