Project: Empowering Refugees with Livelihood Skills

Workshop Report: Reusable Sanitary Pads Production Training

Background

On the 17.April.2025 as part of the Empowering Refugees with Livelihood Skills project, Communities Thrive Organization (CTO) organized a practical workshop on the production of reusable sanitary pads in Kampala.

This project aims to economically empower 20 refugee women and strengthen connections between support organizations that support refugee consumers and the refugee producers. The initiative also seeks to reduce dependency by transforming refugees from consumers into active producers capable of generating income and contributing to their communities.

Overall Project Goal

To economically empower refugees and create sustainable livelihood opportunities by providing hands-on training in essential skills such as soap making, hand sanitizer production, computer maintenance, and food processing — while connecting refugee producers with organizations that provide support for refugee consumers in camps.

Specific Workshop Objectives

·        To equip participants with practical sewing skills to produce reusable sanitary pads.

·        To promote menstrual hygiene and dignity among refugee women and girls.

·        To encourage small-scale production for income generation and self-reliance.

Activities Conducted

·        Demonstration of pad patterns, fabric selection, and materials preparation.

·        Hands-on practice in cutting, sewing, and assembling reusable pads.

·        Awareness discussions on menstrual hygiene, health, and environmental sustainability.

Results and Achievements

·        20 women successfully completed the training and produced their first reusable sanitary pads.

·        Participants gained confidence and expressed interest in starting small home-based businesses.

·        Increased awareness on menstrual hygiene and reduction of stigma around the topic.

Challenges

·        Limited access to high-quality sewing materials.

·        Lack of external funding was a significant challenge; however, the workshop was successfully implemented through the dedicated efforts and voluntary contributions of CTO teams, demonstrating strong internal commitment and teamwork.

Conclusion

workshop was part of CTO’s continuous effort to build self-reliance, dignity, and economic resilience among refugees. Through the production of reusable sanitary pads, participants not only learned valuable skills but also gained the opportunity to contribute to their household income and community well-being.

This initiative is a step forward in connecting refugee producers with supporting organizations that provide support to refugee consumers, ensuring sustainable livelihoods and a stronger, more resilient refugee community.