Cameroon's First 100% Biodegradable Sanitary pads

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Cameroon's First 100% Biodegradable Sanitary pads 〰️

Founding Story

I started Kaja Eco Production Ltd out of empathy for women and girls in Cameroon especially those from rural communities. I had my first period at a very early age with no prior knowledge about menstruation. Thus I used rags and other makeshift options during my period which were detrimental to health.

While already working as a nurse in New York, I set up a small scholarship fund to help orphans in my community with books, fees and uniforms. After sending my first bunch of girls to school, I got reports that they weren't going all the time. They were missing up to a week of school every month because of THEIR PERIODS. They would fall behind at school, struggle in exams and eventually drop out. I was gob smacked that girls were using rags, newspaper, kitchen sponges and leaves. Some even go as far as using leafs, yes from trees. I really felt something strong, for a woman to be in the position that leaves are her best option is definitely is not a good position. I faced the same problem when I had my first period which affected me academically but that shouldn't be happening to girls more than 15 years later.

When I visited Cameroon for vacation after many years in the USA, I decided to do an in-depth research to find out what girls were using during their monthly period. I was left bewildered. Many girls did not have access to affordable sanitary pads. Binta, a 15 years old teenage mother from a certain Muslim community told me that she was forced into marriage at the age of 12 because her parents thought that buying sanitary pads was expensive and a waste of money. Cecilia, a secondary school student in Bamenda told me that she exchanges sex for money to buy pads.

So coming full circle I felt compelled to do something to help. Life feels better for me when I help, and this is how I decided to do so. First I launched a self funded project where I brought pads from New York and donated to girls in schools and orphanages in rural communities in the North West region of Cameroon. More than 5000 girls and 40 teachers benefited from the program.

In 2016, I launched yet another project called 1 Million pads project with the aim of amassing 1 Million pads by the year 2020 for girls in Cameroon. Pad donation started pouring in from all over the world. However, these projects were not sustainable because the cost of shipping pads from the US and Europe was overwhelming.

I wanted to make sure that these girls were going to have pads all the time. So I thought that since donated pads were not sustainable, a marketable approach could be long lasting. And so I thought, if I can start a business that will sustain the giving, I will be comfortable that the girls will have pads over and over again.

That was really the ah- ha moment for me. When many people look at problems in the third world, they immediately think “Charity" but at this time what stroke me the most was Social Entrepreneurship. So that's how I started KujaEcoPads with the one –on- one Tom’s shoes business model. I knew if we could get people to buy our pads and continue to buy our pads, we could sustain the giving and that will solve the problem of period poverty in Cameroon.

KujaEcoPads- No latex No toxins No chlorine bleach Purely natural

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KujaEcoPads- No latex No toxins No chlorine bleach Purely natural 〰️

Why Biodegradable sanitary pads?

I started doing more and more research into the feminine hygiene market. I was trying to figure out why not much has changed in so long when it comes to the products. I thought I could design something better, or even, something completely different. In my research I realized how women are all different. They have such different needs. Personal preference, religion and health amongst a host of other influences come into it. There should be more options for us.

I read more, and I was shocked to learn about the chemicals that are used in some of the processes to manufacture many pads and tampons on the market. How much plastic is used that after a just a few hours use ends up in landfill for hundreds if not thousands of years. Pesticides are sprayed all over the cotton to help it grow without insects making a dinner of it. KujaEcoPads is Cameroon’s first 100% biodegradable sanitary pads made from abandoned banana fiber which is widely grown in Cameroon. They are completely natural with no harmful chemicals or gels added. They are also individually wrapped in a biodegradable plastic sleeve to keep them clean, a recyclable cardboard box, again, reducing the plastic that will sit in landfill forever. They are free from chlorine and carcinogenic dioxin bleach.

Meet the Team

Marie-Claire N. Kuja

CEO & FOUNDER
Marie-Claire is a menstrual hygiene activist, sanitary pad campaigner and girls empowerment champion with a passion for health and wellness for all women and girls.
Her innovation, KujaEcoPads, has empowered more than 1,000,000 girls to stay in school during their monthly period and created more than 100 jobs for low-income women involved in the organization.
Despite the challenges she has faced with the Covid19 pandemic and crises in the North of Cameroon, her passion continues to drive her company and empower girls everywhere.
Marie Claire aims to scale up production, increase awareness, and train more entrepreneurs to follow in her footsteps. Her determination and ambition will enable her to realize her dream of a prosperous future for girls across Cameroon!

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Ma Conciliea Mafor

PIONEER MEMBER
Years working with KujaEcoPads:
5 Years
A bit about me:
I grew up and have lived in Mendankwe community my whole life, raising my 7 children in the house me and my husband built 25 years ago.
I love sharing with those in need through my role as a community leader. I am known as ‘Ma International’ as I am the best cook of ‘achu’ in the village. People come to me from all over town for it!
Impact of the project on my life:
Kuja Company changed my life a lot, now I am able to buy school books and pay fees for my children to go to school. I am able to pay my contribution in church and not rely on my husband. I have more financial freedom and I feel very empowered!

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Auntie Frinue Iyvonne

PIONEER MEMBER
Years working with KujaEcoPads:
5 years
A bit about me:
I also grew up in Mendankwe. I have 4 children. I love singing and I am a youth president in the church choir group.
Impact of project on my life:
Working with KujaEcoPads has impacted me in so many ways; I can afford things for myself, like clothes and food for my family, without having to ask others. I also have easier access to pads as it was harder to find them before.
I like working with KujaEcoPads because I feel supported and happy that my job is helping other girls at the same time.

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Auntie Justine Atungsiri

FOUNDING PARTNER
Years working with KujaEcoPads:
5 years
A bit about me:
Before working with Kuja I farmed corn, beans and yams. I have 4 children, 3 girls and a boy. I enjoy singing in church and love singing in the Igbo language of our choir.
One of my happiest memories is when my two girls were successful in their examinations at school, one went to university and she studied science.
Impact of the project on my life:
I met Kuja at church where she introduced the project to me. It changed my life a lot because now my family has security which makes me really happy.
I love that I am helping other girls by helping them understand their periods and wish I had the pads when I was younger.

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Uncle Emmanuel

PRODUCTION LEADER
Years working with KujaEcoPads:
1 year
A bit about me:
I live in Baffousam most of the time with my wife and 3 daughters. We work in the fields normally, but this job has given me a chance to earn extra income to help support my daughters’ future.
I love being surrounded by nature and spending time with friends over a couple of beers.
Impact of the project on my life:
I have been able to meet lots of new people, support Marie Claire, the team and my country which makes me very proud.

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Sister Mariama

JUNIOR AMBASSADOR
Years working with KujaEcoPads:
2 years
A bit about me:
I grew up in a village called Mbiame in the North-West. When the anglophone crises began I couldn’t go to school for two years. I felt so frustrated and upset. Eventually I came to work with KujaEcoPads and I was able to go to school again, which made me so happy!
My favourite subject is biology and when i’m older I would love to be a doctor!
Impact of the project on my life:
I learnt so many things from this project. I feel very empowered. I’ve learnt about menstruation and how to be hygienic during it. I’ve learnt it is not a crime or a taboo. I am no longer ashamed and feel proud to be a woman! All this is thanks to KujaEcoPads

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