BY BETELHEM BEDLU
Emebet Tadesse is the founder of Maryod Reusable Sanitary Pads and a supplier of frozen vegetables for different well known international hotels and restaurants in the capital. She was born and raised in Bale town. She completed her primary education there. She then moved to Addis Ababa and continued her secondary education in Akaki Kality Adventist School. Despite the fact that she had a great score in the entrance exam, she decided to leave the country for some reason at the time and went straight to Holland.
Her stay was not full beds of roses, so she had to struggle for a while. However, her deep desire to return and start new businesses in her homeland country is what kept Emebet going throughout her journey. Emebet is known for her deep, enthusiastic personality, which she carries on to accomplish all of her dreams. She doesn’t take ‘No’ for an answer, she said, “when people tell me that I can’t accomplish something; I will use it as fuel and prove them wrong.’ Through time, she wanted to open a business in Holland, though every time she shared her idea with the people around her all they had to say was that it was impossible given the fact that she was an immigrant who had nothing enough to start a business.
Giving deaf ears to those negative comments, Emebet went ahead and studied food and beverage for a diploma, as it was forbidden to open a restaurant or bar without having the know-how or holding a license in a related field. Once she was able to acquire her diploma, she opened a huge restaurant that served African specialty cuisine. Many people who laughed at her dreams, as well as those who resided there long before she went there, were really amazed by her accomplishment. Her business blossomed and was known for its best African foods. After spending two decades abroad, it was time for her to return to her country. However, deciding what she could do for her country was not a piece of cake.
Fortunately, while she was preparing to come to Ethiopia, a company approached her and other business owners to help them facilitate doing an investment in Ethiopia; thus, she took advantage of the situation to visit some Ethiopian and other businesses. Prior to coming to Ethiopia, she came up with the idea of producing reusable sanitary pads and diapers in the country. Having to go through some difficulties when she was attending her secondary education in boarding school related to her period, she decided easily what she wanted to do for her business.
Then, they came and visited many businesses in the country; however, when she announced that the business she wanted to engage was producing reusable sanitary pads, most investors did not like the idea, and even some considered her crazy. But she understood that their reaction was nothing but a lack of awareness of the challenges that many women and girls had to go through due to period poverty. Little did they know that many women and girls were skipping school and work due to period poverty. Fortunately, the tour revealed that the deep desire of the people and students that they were able to meet during their tour was not glass or any other business, but affordable reusable sanitary pads. That way, they understood the need and the huge gap.
That is how she established Maryod, a reusable sanitary pad company that envisioned creating access to hygiene sanitary pads and opening a new chapter of personal freedom and ease for all women. Currently, she is producing medical, adult, and children’s diapers, uniquely made sanitary pads for persons with disabilities, bed sheets, bed and pillow coverings, bags, and other materials. The products are locally sourced and carefully made cotton fabrics that are chemical free and have no irritation for the body. The diapers as well as the pads could also be washed with regular soap, and they are believed to do no harm to the environment and could serve for a maximum of two years.
On the other hand, as someone who was engaged in the restaurant business, Emebet was not satisfied with what she saw in several restaurants and hotels in the city. She had so many concerns with regard to sanitation and hygiene, which are not given due emphasis at the moment. Her background in business did not allow her to completely ignore it. Therefore, besides her other company, which gave relief to women, she engaged in business; however, this time, she did not want to open a restaurant, but she intended to supply frozen vegetables to various well-known hotels, which most of them import from different countries.
It was irritating to learn that most hotels in the country import vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and others from different countries. So, I decided to provide the hotels with frozen vegetables that are carefully prepared and made for the hotels. The first hotel she went to after doing her research was the “Sheraton Hotel’. She discussed this with the main chief and let him know that she could provide them with frozen fruits. They reached an agreement, and she started supplying frozen vegetables. By supplying vegetables, not only did she save the foreign currency that used to be fussed over for something that could easily be produced in the country, but she also created jobs for citizens. Currently, she has employed permanently and temporarily 70 employees in both of her businesses.
Nonetheless, there are some difficulties that she is facing with regard to her first business. Despite the fact that poverty is a national challenge and there are some emerging businesses that produce reusable sanitary pads, finding inputs has become so challenging. Thus, she suggested that textile and apparel companies produce suitable fabrics that could be used to make the aforementioned materials. But most importantly, awareness should be created about using locally made sanitary pads. The major reason that women and girls are still facing hard times due to period poverty is not only because they cannot afford to buy sanitary pads that are available in the market, but also because many of them are not aware of such products.
Thus, besides the manufacturing companies, concerned institutions such as the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and others are expected to take a leading role in sensitizing the community so as to alleviate the stigma and allow them to easily use affordable reusable sanitary pads. By doing so, apart from allowing girls and women to attend school and work, the environment would also be protected. As part of her corporate social responsibility, Emebet has been supporting pro poor children, internally displaced people, and women affected by conflicts by providing them with the necessary materials from her products.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 15 JUNE 2023
