Flow Project
The Problem
As Friends-Together continued returning to the Moshi region of Tanzania, we noticed another
troubling pattern: in the upper grades, the girls were not there. As students aged up, the
number of girls sharply declined—not because they lacked ability, but because they lacked
basic menstrual supplies.
Missing a week of school every month quickly adds up. Over time, those lost days become
months of interrupted learning, limiting futures and opportunities. Women face the same
barriers, missing work and losing income every month.
The Flow Project began to change that.
Reusable Sanitary Pads • Menstrual Health • Educational Access
Why We Started
Menstrual products exist in some areas—but they are not available in all communities we serve, and where they are available, they are often unaffordable. Girls and women often resort to unsafe alternatives, such as old cloth or plant fibers like sisal, which is traditionally used to make rope. These materials are uncomfortable, unhygienic, and can cause infections.
Social taboos, cultural silence, and misinformation about menstruation make the problem worse. Period poverty is not only a challenge in Tanzania—it affects communities worldwide, including in the United States.
Friends-Together believes: You cannot create generational change if girls cannot stay in school.
Supporting menstrual hygiene is one of the most basic, foundational steps.
How the Flow Project Evolved
Timeline:
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2015: Recognized the need
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2016: Tested designs
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2017: First kits distributed
Lessons Learned:
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Velcro was uncomfortable
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Metal snaps rusted
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Buttons were hard to use and often broke
Today’s design includes:
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Soft flannel liners (durable and long-lasting)
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Waterproof shield with snaps
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Locally purchased fabric and components whenever possible
Note: Liners are designed to last multiple years. The shield typically requires replacement after ~1 year because snaps break, which limits overall kit life.
What’s Inside a Flow Kit
Each reusable flow kit provides one full year of reliable protection. After a year, the shield may need replacement, the liner is designed to last longer.
Each kit is designed to include:
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Flannel liners
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Waterproof shield with snaps
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Waterproof carrying bag
Additional items (included only if funding allows):
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Soap
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Underwear
Training: At distribution, each recipient receives a training session on proper use and care of the liners, and shields.
Breaking the Silence
Menstruation is often a taboo subject in the communities we serve, rarely discussed openly and
surrounded by shame and misinformation. Menstrual health education is part of every Flow
Project distribution.
Early on, our volunteer Tashoy was lovingly called the “vagina queen” for teaching openly,
honestly, and compassionately—breaking through years of taboo. This spirit continues through
every training session.
Why This Matters: The Bigger Picture
Without access to menstrual supplies and education, this is what happens:
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Missed school → falling behind
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Missed work → lost income
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Increased risk of infections from unsafe alternatives
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Stigma and silence
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Fewer opportunities for the future
When they do have access, everything changes:
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Girls stay in school more consistently
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Women are better able to manage their cycle and maintain work attendance
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Confidence grows
Made Locally Through Our Tailoring School
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Liners & shields: sewn by some graduates of our Tailoring School, who are employed and paid for their work
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Materials: Purchased locally whenever possible
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Waterproof bags: Provided separately by Friends-Together
This approach creates income for local women while keeping the project sustainable within the community.
Understanding Period Poverty
Period poverty is the lack of access to menstrual products due to high cost, limited availability, lack of education, lack of access to clean water, and social stigma.
Period poverty is not just a hygiene issue—it is also an education issue, a health issue, and a human dignity issue.
The Impact of the Flow Project
Girls:
• Stay in school more consistently
• Reduce the risk of infections
• Feel confident and empowered
Women:
• Miss less work due to lack of menstrual products
• Feel supported and dignified
A simple, reusable pad/liner kit is changing lives—
quietly, powerfully, and permanently.
How Can You Help
Just $20 provides a full Flow Kit for a year.
Ways to support:
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Fund kits for girls and women
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Support tailoring students who sew the liners and shields
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Donate materials (PUL fabric for bags, snaps)
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Sew waterproof bags made from PUL material
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Share the project with your community
✨ Together, We Create Generational Change
The Flow Project ensures a girl’s education isn’t interrupted by a natural cycle—and a woman’s livelihood isn’t limited by lack of access.
This is dignity.
This is opportunity.
This is generational change.