Our Specific Grant Project - Description and Budget

         Due to their prioritization of sustainable, long-term, and effective period products, I Am a Girl has faced an issue that many organizations of their kind have run into: IAG frequently must turn down donations of single-use tampons and pads because they are simply not the best option as they impact our environment negatively, and require consistent repurchasing. In speaking with the organization, it became apparent that while they can clearly articulate the ways in which reusable pads are best for the women in Uganda, they lack true statistical data and research to corroborate this. In our project, the grant money will go towards this research to ensure that IAG is supporting the most suitable and sustainable period product for the girls in Mbale. 

In our initial planning, we estimate the project to span three months. In these three months, Jackie and Ella will be paired with two Ugandan counterparts- young girls from the Mbale area who will receive a monthly stipend of $50. These counterparts will meet and consult with Jackie and Ella as a means to corroborate research and answer questions about the reality of their situation, providing us with information that would likely not be available from online sources. The research will be centralized around different menstrual products and will rely heavily on feedback from women in the Mbale area. Because IAG is teaching youth in the Mbale area how to make reusable pads, it is important that we further prove that these pads are the best option. The research will further the case that reusable pads are the best method. 

Our project will be overseen by a project manager, Ms. Desire, who works closely with IAG administrators. She will handle buying food for the participants, the budget, and all behind-the-scenes work. Computers will be bought for participants so the exchange may run smoothly, and the same technology will remain at IAG for future use. The exchange will consist of calls with two Ugandan women, the same women paired with us, who are involved in the research. Because they have experiences with menstruation that are different than our own, the exchange will not only allow us to stay involved with the research, but also form a deeper understanding of the global period poverty issue. While the office has some internet connection, this exchange, and research will require its own connection because the current bandwidth is not projected to sustain multiple video calls. Therefore, the budget covers internet for the duration of the research project. We hesitated to include snack funding is required because the culture in Uganda is such that food and beverages are expected and always provided to visitors. Further, these women participating live in poverty, and since it’s easier to learn when someone is not constantly thinking about hunger, snacks will hopefully provide for higher productivity. Therefore, snacks are a necessary expense. Office supplies will provide women with resources to conduct and record research. The dissemination event will include a presentation of research. The audience will include donors, other organizations that could benefit from such research, and local community members who want to see the findings. The budget presented includes necessary food, printing, and other event expenses, such as tables or venue. The information will increase donations because the research will provide concrete evidence of the usefulness of reusable pads. While the location details have yet to be finalized, Poly students and Global Scholars should be able to attend remotely.

A fantastic way to empower women is by paying them for their work. Miranda Cohen, our contact and IAG organizer, explained that the 200 dollars provided to each woman will actually have a huge impact on their lives - as part of the issue with period poverty and the culture of the area, women often lack employment opportunities. Their time spent as part of the program will be taken from their families and local communities, so their willingness to participate should be compensated. The research also would not happen without participants, so their contribution is essential. We, therefore, feel it essential to provide some sort of stipend to those who work with us.  The same is true for the project manager salary. Organizing transportation, technology, etc. requires more attention in rural Uganda, and the manager’s time should be rewarded. 

Ultimately, our project will support I Am a Girl’s mission to aid the betterment of women and girls in low-resource Ugandan communities who lack the financial means to properly manage their periods. The research this grant would fund will allow for data-backed endorsement of reusable pads- the product that IAG currently is teaching Ugandans how to make and maintain themselves. In proving (or possibly disproving) that reusable pads are the most sustainable and suitable product for IAG’s work, the organization will be able to confidently move forward with their work, spreading knowledge and tools to allow young women to live their lives free of restraints established by their periods. The research is applicable even beyond I Am A Girl as organizations in different parts of the world can use the findings to advance their own missions. The ripple effect that funding for this research has truly spans farther than its duration or location. The information gathered will change women’s lives in Uganda, Africa, and the world.