Now when working on the project I design around the needs of the people and the needs of the planet. The major difference being that before the boot camp I didn’t think like a designer. In the Netherlands we attended a one-week boot camp which really changed how I approach our work. The competition was a turning point and now everything is coming together. I travelled to the Netherlands where I attended a boot camp, met amazing people, and received a cash prize which was injected into the project. Unfortunately, the savings were running out fast and that’s when the What Design Can Do ‘No Waste’ Challenge came to my attention I applied for it and won. This was all so that by the end of 2021, I could put everything I had saved into doing the required research and to try validate the prototype. I changed jobs twice over the next two years. I put a plan into action, looking to save money so that I could work on the project full-time. When I was starting out in 2019 I would ask myself, “How am I going to build the skills to enable this thing that I’m so passionate about, all while keeping my job and maintaining my responsibilities as a parent?” At that point I saw a community around the supply chain, from the youth I pay a stipend to collect the maize husks and extract fibre from the pineapple leaves, to the women who assemble the pads, all benefiting from this project, and it was so impactful to me. I did the same thing when collecting the maize husks from the market, and got the same reaction. The next occurred when I went to see the farmers and told them, “Do you know that these leaves can also be converted into fibre to make sanitary pads?”, and they were so surprised. So, that was the first aha moment, seeing the opportunity. When I started this process I kept doubting myself, but today we are making this pulp in larger quantities, continuing with research and testing, and I know deep down, “This is where I want to be for the rest of my life”. At that point I saw a community around the supply chain, from the youth I pay a stipend to to collect the maize husks, to the women who are helping to make the pads, all benefiting from this project, and it was so impactful to me. When I started this process I kept doubting myself, but today we are making this pulp in high quantities, continuing with research and testing, and I say to myself, “This is where I want to be for the rest of my life”. I held the pineapple pulp, realised that it was a viable alternative, and thought to myself, “Oh my… this is it.” The first time that I felt a type of aha moment was when I was doing research with scientists and profiling different types of fibres. I have lived for the last 23 years in a town called Thika, which is referred to as the pineapple capital of Kenya. And that’s how we were able to collaborate and make the product which is now Nyungu Afrika. I reached out to a material scientist and started learning about alternative ways of making cellulose instead of being reliant on wood pulp. One company sent me their pads and I was shocked to learn that it was the case. I wanted to find out if there really is a difference in sanitary pad quality between sub-Saharan Africa and the global North. I began putting out content about women and their periods, and at the same time reached out to brands that make sanitary pads outside the country to do some research. I started a social media page which is still active now. At the time I didn’t know anything about the female hygiene industry, but as a mistreated woman I also experienced similar things. And unfortunately, in the same year the story came to light of Jackline Chepng’eno, who started her period in class, was allegedly shamed for this, and so went home and took her own life. In Kenya in 2019 there was a hashtag on social media where women were complaining about their personal experiences using local sanitary pads that caused irritation, itching and rashes. Today: Mary Nyaruai, founder of Nyungu Afrika, winner of the What Design Can Do ‘ No Waste’ Challenge. Facts and figures speak for themselves, but who exactly are the people behind this extraordinary work? In this storytelling series, we spotlight brave individuals who move mountains in their climate action strategies and solutions. The IKEA Foundation helps many organisations accelerate their efforts in combating climate change.
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