Malawi: Sewing Together to Combat Period Poverty

Period poverty remains a critical challenge in Malawi, particularly among women and girls in rural communities and urban informal settlements. Limited access to menstrual products, lack of education, and strong cultural stigma lead to serious health, educational, and economic consequences, often causing girls to miss school, drop out early, and contributing to the social exclusion of women.

In March and April 2024, YORGHAS Foundation, in partnership with Maja Kotala – Sewing Together, implemented a project aimed at combating period poverty and empowering women in Malawi.

Over 300 women and girls from Mzuzu and Lilongwe participated in workshops on reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, and sewing reusable menstrual pads by hand and machine. The training also included basic entrepreneurship skills to support financial independence. The program addressed key health topics, including the prevention of perinatal infections and the use of sterile birthing kits. Fifty Mama Kits were distributed to expectant mothers, and baby clothes were provided to women with young children.

A key milestone of the project was the donation of two sewing machines by Sewing Together. Installed in Lilongwe, they created a dedicated space for women to further develop their sewing skills, enabling both personal use and income generation. Following the workshops, YORGHAS Foundation organized a one-month tailoring course for the most talented and committed participants. Graduates continue to pass on their knowledge to other women, strengthening local communities and extending the project’s impact.

This project created lasting impact by equipping women with practical skills, income-generating opportunities, and the confidence to support their families and communities.
It also enabled the transfer of knowledge between generations of women, strengthening local capacity and long-term resilience.

Participants included a group of women from a partner organization in Zimbabwe, who are now implementing similar initiatives in their own country and sharing their skills with other women.

Join us in supporting this vital cause in Malawi and beyond!

(The project was implemented in collaboration with our local partners: Zicoforward Foundation and Apause Youth Malawi.)