Menstrual Dignity for Refugee Women

Two for the price of one. Buy one, get one free. Two birds with one stone. No matter how you phrase it, there is something so satisfying about accomplishing multiple goals at once. That's why Days for Girls was so excited when the Uganda team came up with an innovative win-win strategy for supporting refugee girls to gain access to DfG Kits & Health Education, while also supporting DfG Micro-Enterprises to get out and practice their marketing and awareness raising skills. The Uganda Team is embarking on a series of "Market Activations".

Market Activations will pair a Micro-Enterprise member with a DfG Trainer to go out into the market and engage girls and women in conversations around menstruation, and providing sample DfG Pods. A DfG Pod is 1 Shield and 2 Liners - the basic components that make up the "pad." Girls & women will agree to be contacted for follow up visits where they can report on how the DfG Pod is working for them, and whether they would be interested in buying more or recommending to their friends. 

The Team has already begun testing and refining this model in a series of "Market Days", where they have collected valuable feedback and data from the people approached. On average, each team member was able to talk to 7 people per hour, with a sales rate of 1 DfG Pod sold per 14 people talked to. Further, 70% of those approached indicated that they would like to buy a DfG Pod, but did not have the money immediately available. Upon return visits, many of these customers did follow through with their plans to purchase the DfG Pod - showing that awareness raising is a critical first step in convincing people about the product value.

With the lessons fresh in our minds, the Market Activations will officially kick off in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, where the Angel's Care Micro-Enterprise is operating. This structure is beneficial not only because it will empower the Micro-Enterprise with lasting skills for community engagement, but it will also meet the girls & women where they are and allow them time to talk one-on-one about their more pressing women's health questions. As always, these Market Activations will also provide ample opportunity for learning, so that the DfG Team can continue improving the program, new activities, and engagement strategies and to share these lessons around the world. 

Stay tuned for stories from our Market Activations!