Racman’s Charitable Efforts: Providing Reusable Menstrual Pads to Those in Need

At Racman, we’re passionate about making reusable menstrual products accessible to all. For several years, in honour of Menstrual Hygiene Day, we have been actively donating cloth menstrual pads to women and girls who face challenges in accessing menstrual hygiene products. Each year, our commitment grows, fueled by our mission to improve access to menstrual products and the invaluable generosity of our customers.

2021: Supporting local families through Ana's Fund

To mark Menstrual Hygiene Day in 2021, we launched a campaign with the following commitment: for every seven pads sold, we donated one to those who needed them most.

We partnered with Ana’s Fund, a charitable organization supporting large families in need, helping us reach women and girls who would benefit greatly from reusable menstrual products. By the end of the campaign (from May 25 to June 1), we had sold 714 pads and donated 102. 

These went to fourteen women, many of whom struggle with sensitive skin and recurrent vaginal infections. We were thrilled to know that our cloth pads would help them experience the menstrual cycle more comfortably.

2022: Racman’s Menstrual Health Mission in Kenya

Understanding the need for menstrual hygiene products in underserved regions, we expanded our mission globally in 2022. Our focus turned to Kenya, where young girls in poverty use makeshift alternatives like clothing, towels, leaves, old newspapers, toilet paper, or even dried cow dung instead of menstrual pads. In fear of 'accidents' at school, many girls stay at home during their periods. This situation is similar in other parts of sub-Saharan Africa too.

To support them, we collaborated with three Slovenian medical students traveling to Kenya, providing a total of 206 cloth  pads. Of these, 80 pads were donated directly by Racman through the same “7-for-1” initiative, and the remaining were generously purchased and donated by our wonderful customers.

The girls in Kenya were truly thrilled with the donated cloth pads! Some were received by future nurses, young women between the ages of 20 and 30. A woman from the village was especially thrilled, and said she will share them with her seven daughters. A portion of the cloth pads was also distributed at a clinic to young girls living with HIV.

In addition to the reusable menstrual pads, the girls had a conversation about menstruation. While most of them use disposable pads, those who can't afford them often have to wait in isolation. Unfortunately, menstruation is a major taboo in their community.

2023: Returning to Kenya once again

In 2023 the collected reusable menstrual pads were brought to Kenya by students Katja and Jurij. In Kenya, as in many other parts of the world, ensuring menstrual hygiene remains a major challenge. In many regions, women face difficulties in accessing clean water, healthcare services, and menstrual products. To make matters worse, social exclusion and the stigma surrounding menstruation worsen the problem. This is also closely linked to a lack of education on menstrual health.

During the campaign (from May 28th to June 7th, 2023), 489 reusable pads were purchased; for every seven pads bought, we donated one, bringing the total to about 70 reusable cloth pads! We are especially surprised by the high number of direct donations! A generous 179 reusable menstrual pads were donated directly! As promised, we doubled that number! These donations mostly came from satisfied customers, who know firsthand how wonderful cloth pads are and want quality menstrual protection to be accessible to others.

The total number of reusable cloth pads sent to Kenya was 428 (70 + 179 + 179)!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed in any way, whether by sharing the post, purchasing a cloth pad, or making a direct donation.

2024: Supporting new mothers in Uganda

Our efforts in 2024 focused on Uganda, where menstrual and postnatal hygiene is a considerable challenge for many women, especially in rural areas like Bwama Island on Lake Bunyonyi. Working with a Slovenian nurse volunteering in Uganda alongside four female doctors, we learned about the realities for postpartum women who often lack access to even basic sanitary materials.

On this island, there is a small maternity ward, where two midwives who alternate shift to assist in welcoming around 200 newborns into the world each year.

So, what is the reality like? Women take care of their postpartum hygiene on their own, with some receiving assistance from their companions. The midwives clean the woman after childbirth and create an improvised pad from gauze and cotton. But what happens later? Well, each woman must make do with whatever is available to her. Some can afford disposable pads, while others improvise with rolled-up cloths...

Some cannot afford anything at all. Our Slovenian nurse saw this firsthand. One young mother came in for her postpartum check-up, and blood was running down her legs. This event deeply moved our volunteers, and it sparked a strong desire to find a way to make things a bit easier for these mothers during what are already such challenging postpartum days. They reached out to us, and we were more than happy to support the idea of combining our efforts.

During the donation campaign (from May 28th to June 6th, 2024), our customers purchased 508 reusable pads. For every seventh cloth pad, we donated one, bringing the total to 73 donated cloth pads! A special thanks goes to all the direct donors, who purchased 315 reusable menstrual pads and once again showed how wholeheartedly you believe in our products and their impact. Since we doubled this amount, the total number of cloth pads from direct donations is 630.

All the pads donated by our company were in size L; the total number of reusable cloth pads going to Uganda was 703 (73 + 315 + 315)!

Gratitude to Our Community

Each year, we are inspired by our customers’ generosity, which allows us to amplify the impact of our donations. We are driven by the shared belief that menstrual hygiene is a right, not a privilege. Thank you to everyone who has contributed, whether by purchasing reusable menstrual pads, donating directly, or sharing our mission. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of women and girls around the world.

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