BY BETELHEM BEDLU
Kalkidan Tadesse, 27, is the founder of Happy Biodegradable Sanitary Pad. She was born in Harar but lives in Deberezeit city. Since her childhood, she has been very passionate about trying new things and committed to what she believed in.
Having taken several short term courses, she has earned two degrees in civil engineering & Business Management. She is also a YALI 2020 Cohort 38 Alumna.
While she was a second year student, she was the general secretary at Ambo University Student Union for about four years. After accomplishing her first degree, just like every other parent who wanted to celebrate her graduation day, they wanted to prepare a party; however, she insisted on having the money for the graduation party.
As per her desire, she received a hundred thousand birr from her parents and started a business with her uncle. Unfortunately, the business did not get well as she imagined it. She then shifted her mind to other areas and later, she served as a principal at Genet kindergarten school for about a year.
Kalkidan is a passionate girl who works for excellence. So far, she has received three Patent rights of introduction from the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office. She is one of the 20 startups that have been selected to join the incubation and seed funding program from 700 startups. Currently, she is working as a site engineer as well as undertaking her own project.
The Ethiopian Herald has a stay with her; excerpt.
Tell us about your career journey and how you come up with the idea of Happy?
When I was a campus student, I was able to come across that there were many ruptured mattresses in our dorm. At the time, I was a general secretary at Ambo University student union and I had a chance to discuss the issues with the proctors. I was so shocked when I found out that some girls used the ruptured mattress as a sanitary pad every month.
Having learnt about the challenges that most students were going through as well as experiencing some rashes when I used commercial sanitary pads myself, I could not stop thinking about the idea.
Frankly speaking, I was not thinking of starting a business at the time as my first intention was solving the problem. But then, I ask myself, “What if I change it to business and make money as well as alleviate the problem of women?” So, I started researching and understood that only a few countries like India and Uganda manufacture the same products like we do here. That is how I started fully engaging in Happy.
When did you establish “Happy” and what are the core values of your company?
Happy was established in 2020 as a sole proprietership but it needs high investment to manufacture in mass and address all needs. Currently, we are in the process of registering it to share a company.
The core values of Happy are providing affordable as well as quality sanitary products for women while protecting nature, and bringing about sustainable and responsible care for the environment.
In what ways that the sanitary pads you are producing differ from other similar products?
Happy Biodegradable Sanitary Pad is the first 100 percent compostable within six months of disposal, chemical and plastic free that is made up of all natural composition with no harmful synthetics and chemicals in Ethiopia.
It also gives users an irritation-free and rash-free experience. As women, how many of us know that conventional pads are made up of plastics that take about 500 years to degrade and the harmful chemicals it is made of leads to serious health issues?
Menstruation is still considered as a taboo and perceived to be embarrassing and shameful in our country. This is actually what inspired me to create a brand that cares for the women’s health as well as the environment and also empower and educate women about the various aspects of menstrual hygiene.
What are the major challenges that you encountered so far and what lessons did you learn from the process?
I have faced multiple challenges throughout my journey but I am always grateful that I went through what I went through because it is that path that made me who I am today.
I have got some rejections and there were times when I got betrayed by business partners when I ordered machines for the business. But, I went through the challenges by making timely and wise decisions although I spent four months going back and forth to court. As a young and social entrepreneur, what kept me strong and helped me to go forward was my strong belief in my dream and the fact that my dream never dies unless I leave room for hopelessness, and giving up and restricting myself from realizing my dreams.
What are your best accomplishments so far and where did you see yourself in five years?
I believe that the day that I realized and discovered what my purpose in life was is my best accomplishment in life. Similarly, maintaining a happy, healthy family and marriage life, being able to handle my challenges and complexity wisely and move on to the next level are my other accomplishments.
The fact that I have reached this far in my business despite all the challenges I went through is my greatest accomplishment.
Moreover, being selected as one of the top five startups by ‘Ethiopia Solutions’ (Diaspora Crowd funding Engagement platform and as one of 20 startups that have been selected by Xhub Addis/CALS in partnership with JCC (Job Creation Commission) & UNDP to join the incubation and seed funding program from 700 startups are also my successes so far.
In the next five years, I saw myself as one of the most successful business women in Africa and to be a role model for youths. Company wise, I want Happy to be the number one manufacturer company that manufactures biodegradable products (Sanitary Pads, Diapers, Maternity Pads, toothbrushes…) in the world.
What message would you like to share with our readers?
I want take this opportunity to say to the youth to discover what their purpose in life is and what they want to be rather than what others expect them to become. I believe being thankful for everything and sharing is important so I’m ready to share what I have with the world.
Here, I also want to say that what we need most to start a business is not necessarily the ‘best idea’, all we need is to find a problem and find a solution for it.
I would like to conclude by saying “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16”
The Ethiopian Herald October 9/2021
