Menstruation needs should be given to women in need.
Third world markets
The conventional products we use today as essential feminine hygiene products are expensive, often contain bleach, chemicals and dioxins - all potentially harmful to our bodies. They can be difficult to dispose of; often highly uncomfortable and well, they are just plain awkward and inconvenient with their little strings, clips and sticky strips. There are over 577 million women who do not have access to any feminine hygiene products. They have to resort to almost prehistoric methods using crumpled newspaper, old rags, or a combination of dried leaves, cow dung and mud. In knowing that these women suffer the way they do, being ostracized from their own societies because of their period, Samantha has a revolutionary new approach to feminine hygiene and she will do all she can to work with Government Health Programs & Charities, allowing for these less fortunate women to regain their dignity, self-respect and self-esteem.
The market of 3rd world is the greatest area of growth.
Samantha has spent the last 7 years traveling into 3rd world’s areas building relationships with governments, doctors, charities and well connected locals with the view of establishing her brand and show of support and commitment to supplying her menstrual pods to this market.
To date Samantha has built relationships with the Indian and South African government, a group of medical doctors in Dubai, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Bahrain whilst discussions have commenced in China to take the product into China via the Ministry of Health. Talks have also started re Nepal, the Torres Straight Islands, the Solomon Islands and other parts of Melanesia. She has also commenced discussions with the Australia government via The Minister for Health and The Minister for Overseas Aid to take the product to those in need as part of the Australian governments Overseas Aid Program.
The discussions with Bangladesh, India and South Africa, indicate that the savings to their governments is huge, it has been suggested that the Indian government alone will save millions of dollars over a 5 year period.
This is a market that has been neglected by the big manufacturers due to the fact these woman or governments cannot afford to purchase products on a monthly basis.
The Alicia™ and the Lotus Pod™ is an affordable solution, also massively reducing the infections and sufferings caused by poor quality products, pads and rags.
The 3rd world market - markets in developing countries:
The market for menstruation products tends to be focused on the West but emerging economies like China and India as well as the African nations represent a massive potential market for the manufacturers. Should governments provide help to enable women in less developed countries who may not have access to such products? Should they be taxed less than other products to make them more affordable?
One of the issues here, however, is the cultural barriers to using such items and also the extent to which they are affordable in countries where the income per capita is very low. The market in China is one area where there is a huge potential for growth. The rural areas of China still have a high proportion of very poor people and again the affordability of such products will remain an issue. For governments of these countries there are decisions to be made in relation to the taxes levied on sanitary protection. Should taxes be reduced to make the products more affordable? Even if they were, would the income levels still prohibit their use? The Alicia™ and The Lotus Pods™ are an affordable solution to the economic issues of the 3rd world market according to Samantha. Women in this market will also gain a new freedom and empowerment by using The Alicia™ or The Lotus Pod™.
Samantha is currently discussing with local and international charities ways in which to get The Pods™ into areas of need.
A bit more on the 3rd world market potential
Can The Lotus Pod™ provide a bright and healthy future for an African or Solomon Island girl? Definitely, there's a direct link between using feminine protection and achieving higher education, and good health. Girls in many developing areas miss school due to the inability to manage their menstrual cycle discreetly, in fact due to missed days most end up dropping out all together... Using The Lotus Pod™ means there are less days missed from school which enable the girl to get a better education as well as suffer less vaginal infection and irritations resulting in better health outcomes. The purchase of The Alicia Pod™ will make a significant difference in the lives of many girls in developing areas.
Samantha will donate one Lotus Pod™ for every Alicia™ purchased. This will change the life of a young woman forever. We know there are many reasons a young girl can miss school, being unable to manage her menstrual cycle in this day and age should not be one of them.
"In some regions of the world, many girls have to stay home when they get their period just because they don't have protection".
A new freedom for women
Will The Lotus Pod™ make menstruation easier to handle for girls in need? Of course it will... These young girls and their families can't afford menstrual items so the giving of menstrual freedom is the perfect gift.
When food and water are luxuries and medicine an impossible dream, menstrual products are simply not on the list of priorities for millions of women.
If they could buy them, there is likely no place to dispose of the used products. It's a western conceit to assume there is someplace to put the leftover plastic and paper other than on the side of a road.
Walk through an African village and you are greeted with a sea of plastic, all of it caught in bushes and drifting across fields.
On the other hand The Lotus Pod™is reusable, eliminating the problem of disposing. Just think of the difference that a discrete, reusable, menstrual product could make to a developing world woman - one product that lasts for years and years.
The solution to the needs of millions of women globally.
It is obvious that for those in need there is no money available for the purchase of menstrual products.
The governments of most developing nations seem to be in no hurry to support women’s menstruation needs and healthcare professions are also trying to raise funds to get needed products into developing areas, but mostly focus on medical supplies rather than female hygiene products.
It was with all this in mind that Samantha founded The Red Rain Project to work with charities to raise funds for the purchase, delivery and education of menstrual hygiene to women in need globally.
For every $10.00 donation a women who is unable to afford the luxury of menstrual products is given The Lotus Pod™ which ensures she has menstrual protection for the next 5 or more years.
Make a donation and help a woman menstruate with dignity
A$
10.00
