She grew up witnessing the challenges most women go through at their young age, especially during their periods. As a teenager, she knew what it meant to experience a heavy menstrual flow without having access to sanitary pads while attending class.
Whenever she is on her periods, she has to remain at home for about a week fearing that her heavy periods may stain her clothes and her seat; and embarrassed her in front of her friends; thinking that they will make fun of her.
Since there was no easy access to sanitary pads in schools or it is not affordable to a teenage girl to have it, it was always her classmates who used to cover her stained skirt with their clothes.
Hanan Ahmed was born and raised in Addis Ababa. She had been working as a flight attendant in the Ethiopian Airlines and Emirates and then started designing Muslim women’s outfits by blending Ethiopian cultural styles with that of Muslim.
Incorporating the designing training and the multi-cultural experiences in her parent`s house (she was born from Muslim father and Catholic mother), Hanan began designing different types of costumes for Muslim women. When she designs the hijab, she used to add some Ethiopian features on it. This, in turn, started alluring and grabbing more customers, not only women but also men to her.
However, when the Coronavirus pandemic broke out and took control of the whole world, Hanan`s business could not flourish as it was expected. It was at this time she diverted her energy and resources to produce face masks and head covers; now, she produces reusable sanitary products for women and elderly. She also manufactures sanitary pads, reusable adult diapers, bed protector underwear and fistula underclothes or period pants for the elderly community.
Hanan believes that every art, talent or passion should first serve the community that is suffering because of economic constraints or health related complications. “As a land where several people are struggling untiringly to fulfill their basic needs and economic constraints are preventing both rural and urban girls from accessing sanitary pads, using my skill, talent and passion to produce reusable pads gives me mental satisfaction,” she said.
When Hanan was fully engaged in the business, the roads she had gone through were not simple and smooth. Rather, she encountered a lot of challenges, including financial constraints and lack of workspace to produce the pads. For this reason, Hanan has gone far to the extent of selling her private vehicle so as to purchase machines that are necessary to run her business. “Besides not having money to buy machines and other inputs, there were several challenges I faced. Luckily my perseverance did not let me down. When I started producing sanitary pads, I only had two employees and two sewing machines. However, currently, there are fourteen employees working with me.”
As a designer with a compassionate heart, Hanan does not always look for the best opportunity to come to her. She is a proactive woman who creates opportunities; she is also a woman who enjoys giving instead of receiving. For that reason, Hanan has combined her passion for design and compassion to help others by producing reusable sanitary pads and underwear that are mainly used for women or fistula victims.
According to her, helping others with God given talent and opportunities is a source of joy. “After all, what would be the meaning of life if we fail to support others while leading a prosperous life? What is the value of being a creative designer if I could not help and lessen the burden of my sisters or elderly citizens who are suffering from heavy menstrual flow or fistula through my talent?”
According to Hanan, every challenge we pass in life will teach us a lesson by mentioning her past experience. “When I was a student, I knew what it meant not having a sanitary pad. I also understand what it means for every Ethiopian woman/ girl not to have money to buy a sanitary pad which is freely accessible in modern countries. What is unaffordable to some girls is a luxury to others. Some girls are prone to various types of infections for not having sanitary pads. I was among them. As a little girl, I used to fear asking for extra money from my mother. So, there was a time that I used a single sanitary pad for longer hours than it is allowed. This has caused an infection on me and exposed me to miscarriage for not four times. I was even told that I have no chance of giving birth to a child. It is a miracle from God who blessed me with a beautiful and smart daughter.”
Hanan had gone through hard times as she quitted her flight attendant profession and got back to Ethiopia for good. However, the challenges never crippled her from achieving her goals. As a woman who learned from her past experience, there was no time that she waited an opportunity to come to her. When she gave up her profession as a flight attendant and returned home, things were not as simple as she expected. But she kept on pursuing her dream and now ended up supporting others.
“All the challenges and the scar I had been through because of my gender identity, I was striving to be an independent and model sister to other women. We grew up in a society where speaking freely about menstruation is odd and taboo. This is still a major problem of the community. I want to create awareness among the society not merely by talking but also by contributing something to my sisters. Using my passion and creativity, I am trying to fill the gaps my Ethiopian sisters and elderly citizens faced.”
According to Hanan, access to sanitary pads is still a problem for several girls and women in Ethiopia. Recalling her recent experience in one of war affected regions, she said, a school girl who is residing with her grandmother and has no dime to buy a sanitary pad was forced to share and reuse the pads used by one of her friends. Helping these kinds of girls needs not only money; it also needs compassion and putting ourselves in their shoes. Coordinated effort of every Ethiopian will alleviate the problem. “I am an individual. I can`t handle it all by myself. We should join our hands to help them. All it takes is kindheartedness!!”
Nurturing the spirit of independence through her activities is one of the goals of Hanan. According to her, every human being is born free and independent; however, because of traditional and cultural beliefs that the society imposes on them, most girls are deprived of their rights; and even have no right to talk about their rights.
Every woman is born with the same passion and creativity as man. However, owing to traditional beliefs and stereotypes attached to them, millions of girls and women are restricted from bringing out their potential and achieving success. “In this regard, it is my firm belief that the beautiful journey of every girl/woman should not be restrained by harmful and traditional opinions,” she concluded.
BY LEULSEGED WORKU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 31 AUGUST 2023
