BeautyWaps for Girls' Education

We will help Kenyan girls to go to school every day of the month by providing them with Kenyan made reusable sanitary pads – the BeautyWaps!

Successful

148

Contributions

01/09/2016

End date

€10,860

Out of €10,000

108 %

<3 Thank you! 22 schoolgirls can go to school thanks to your contribution <3   It's with much gratitude and immense pleasure that I can tell you that we've reached our goal. 22 schoolgirls at Destiny School in the Mathare slum, Kenya, received BeautyWaps end of June. These waps could be made thanks to the crowdfunding project that you contributed to. Now it's been a bit more than a month since the girls got them and it's a great satisfaction to see it works: the girls feel confident to attend school during their period with BeautyWaps!   <img alt="Susan_showing_bw_to_girls-1471275660" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/342950/Susan_showing_BW_to_girls-1471275660.png" /> On the picture above you see Susan, who sews the Kenyan BeautyWaps, explaining how to use and wash them. The schoolgirls have just received their bags with what they need to pass each month, and listen carefully to Susan's instructions.   These bags turned out to be a hit! They're that little special detail that turns the BeautyWaps kit into an accessory to like, to take care of and to use with joy.   <img alt="Girls_with_bw_bag-1471275727" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/342951/girls_with_BW_bag-1471275727.png" /> Schoolgirls with their BeautyWaps-kit bag.   The girls were very happy to receive the BeautyWaps kits! Thanks to the high quality they don't need to worry about the shame of blood stains, so it gives them confidence to attend school during menstruation. They receive the message that they're worth the best and that's a real booster to their self-esteem!   <img alt="Racheal_and_girls-1471275778" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/342952/Racheal_and_girls-1471275778.png" /> Project manager Racheal (in the front wearing a sleeveless shirt) with the schoolgirls, right after she gave them the BeautyWaps-kits.   On behalf of the girls we'd like to sincerely thank each one of you who contributed to make this project a success and enable these girls to go to school every day!   What's next? Susan gave birth to a healthy son in early July and is now on maternity leave. BeautyWaps supports her during this time, so she can get the time she needs with her child and come back to work in October.   Racheal is developing the contacts to NGOs and schools to establish partnerships so that we can repeat this experience and more girls can benefit from the BeautyWaps.   With more resources, sex-education will be given together with the BeautyWaps-kits, so that schoolgirls learn about sexual health and rights.   Do you want to continue to support BeautyWaps for Girls' Education? That's great news! Please contact me via email, phone or facebook to discuss how we can do something together: <a href="mailto:marie@beauty-waps.org">marie@beauty-waps.org</a>                     +33 7 62 83 14 63                   fb / Beauty-waps   Donations are always welcome and much needed: <a href="http://www.beauty-waps.org/en/donate/38-donation-for-girls-education.html">http://www.beauty-waps.org/en/donate/38-donation-for-girls-education.html</a>   Thank you and best wishes, Marie Aichagui, founder and CEO of BeautyWaps

The Kenyan BeautyWaps have arrived!   <img alt="Kenyan_beautywaps_v2-1464601985" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/322949/Kenyan_BeautyWaps_v2-1464601985.png" />   Racheal sent two batches with 18 different variations in size, thickness, material choice and patterns, which Susan has sewn with the greatest care. It's really exciting to experience them for real. This is a huge milestone in the project: we now actually have a Kenyan production of BeautyWaps!   What's next? Based on the tests, we'll decide what fabrics and patterns are the best and we'll select the schoolgirls who will receive the first Kenyan made BeautyWaps.   And… The Maasai one is my favourite, it's so colourful it makes me happy every time I see it :-) To read more about the Maasai: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maasai_people">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maasai_people</a>   <img alt="Maasai_waps-1464602022" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/322951/Maasai_waps-1464602022.png" />

The project continues and for the past weeks Rebeka, Susan and Racheal have been working hard to achieve a high quality product. First it was crucial to have a solid pattern in order to get even pieces to assemble into waps.   Thanks to modern telecommunications our Kenyan tailor Susan can benefit from training sessions from our Swedish tailor Rebeka. But Susan had never used Skype before so it was a bit tricky at first. The different English accents didn't make it easier. So eventually we resorted to Whatsapp which both are used to. It was a great help! Communication was real time with explanations being made easily and illustrated by pictures of the different work steps. This way Rebeka could accompany Susan in her work and eventually approve the result.   <img alt="Photo_22.03.16__18_42_29-1459864259" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/300166/Photo_22.03.16__18_42_29-1459864259.jpg" /><img alt="Photo_22.03.16__18_26_22-1459864271" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/300167/Photo_22.03.16__18_26_22-1459864271.jpg" /> Susan chatting with Rebeka during their cooperation to make a really good Super size waps pattern.   <img alt="Susan_3-1459864302" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/300168/Susan_3-1459864302.png" /> Susan making the outer pattern for the Medium size waps.   Then Medium size waps were sewn according to the corresponding pattern until the quality was approved by Rebeka. Voilà!   <img alt="Medium_wap_template-1459864334" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/300169/Medium_wap_template-1459864334.png" /> Waps medium size pattern.   <img alt="Medium_wap_folded-1459864347" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/300170/Medium_wap_folded-1459864347.png" /> Medium waps, closed.   <img alt="Medium_wap_open_fleece_side-1459864381" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/300173/Medium_wap_open_fleece_side-1459864381.png" />  Medium waps, outer side.   <img alt="Medium_wap_open_flanell_side-1459864365" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/300172/Medium_wap_open_flanell_side-1459864365.png" />  Inner side.

The first step was to buy a camera to document the project. Then we hired an experienced Kenyan tailor, Susan Chepchumba, who had already sewn reusable pads for another brand. Now we were ready to purchase the required equipment, first and foremost good quality sewing machines: a straight stich machine for the basic assembly and an over lock machine for a high quality finish.<img alt="The_machines_being_tested_at_the_work_shop_by_susan-1457437109" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/287459/The_machines_being_tested_at_the_work_shop_by_Susan-1457437109.png" /> The machines being tested at the work shop by Susan   Then the remaining material to start sewing the waps was purchased. That included chairs, tables, sewing accessories and the fabrics.   <img alt="Susan_setting_up_the_over_lock_machine-1457437147" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/287460/Susan_setting_up_the_over_lock_machine-1457437147.png" /> Susan setting up the over lock machine   Now it was time for Susan to get instructions from Rebeka, the original waps designer and tailor living in Sweden. The training was made via Skype video call.   <img alt="Skype_call_between_susan_and_rebeka-1457437172" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/287461/Skype_call_between_Susan_and_Rebeka-1457437172.png" /> Skype call between Susan and Rebeka   After receiving the instructions Susan put what was taught into practice.   <img alt="1_medium_wap_s_different_parts_ready_to_be_assembled-1457437321" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/287463/1_medium_wap_s_different_parts_ready_to_be_assembled-1457437321.png" /> medium wap's different parts ready to be assembled   <img alt="2_over_lock_stitching-1457437339" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/287464/2_over_lock_stitching-1457437339.png" /> over lock stitching   <img alt="3_placing_the_buttons_with_the_press_stud_machine-1457437364" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/287465/3_placing_the_buttons_with_the_press_stud_machine-1457437364.png" /> placing the buttons with the press stud machine   <img alt="4_a_finished_wap__the_printed_side_is_flannel_and_the_black_side_is_fleece-1457437379" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/287466/4_a_finished_wap__the_printed_side_is_flannel_and_the_black_side_is_fleece-1457437379.png" /> a finished wap, the printed side is flannel and the black side is fleece   Now we're eager to perfection the quality and get up to speed sewing the waps!

Meet Mtula Bethsheba Auma   <img alt="Bethsheba-1452075302" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/265114/Bethsheba-1452075302.jpg" />   Bethsheba wants to be a psychologist. "I will make sure that I will be there for girls who need my help just like I was helped when I needed it the most. All I hope for is that nothing will come in my way and nothing will stop me achieving my dream!"   Let's do what's in our power to help Bethsheba achieve her goal, by giving her access to education every day of the month!

Meet Ouma Gloria Achieng   <img alt="Gloria_2-1451902658" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/264421/Gloria_2-1451902658.jpg" />   "I want to support the community by sponsoring children in need for education." For that she knows she'll have to work hard herself to complete higher studies and get a good job, so she can then help others.   Let's help Gloria achieve her awesome goal by not having the period to worry about!

Please meet Otieno Shania Cate.   "I want to become a doctor so I can start a project helping girls who have been victims of sexual abuse Girls need to know their dreams and who they really are. Then they can figure out how to lead a meaningful life!"   <img alt="Shania_2-1451736718" height="324" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/264094/Shania_2-1451736718.jpg" width="539" />   Let's help her fulfill school and her studies, so she can realize her noble dream!

A week after launching the crowdfunding I'm really happy and it's thanks to you! Yesterday I passed the 24% mark to reach the 10000€ goal. 25% have a symbolic value though, so the person who helps me get past that will receive a surprise. So please spread the word among your friends! Thank you.

BeautyWaps for Girls' Education

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