A few sewing machines and some fabric were all it took to make a big difference for young girls in Malawi. Now, they can stay in school and continue learning, even during their period.

“In Malawi, girls often stay home from school for a week every month because they can’t afford to buy sanitary pads or tampons. I wanted to change that,” says Madalo Nyirongo.

Her idea was simple: teach girls how to sew their own reusable sanitary pads.

Her project was one of five that received funding from Norec’s Post-Exchange Initiative at the end of last year.

“Some girls use whatever they can find, which sometimes leads to infections. By teaching them how to make their own pads, they get a clean, washable product that can be reused many times,” Nyirongo explains.

Making a big difference with small means

The Post-Exchange Initiative is a grant scheme where former Norec participants can apply for funding to put ideas developed during their exchange into action.

Nyirongo received 4,000 USD in support from Norec. With the funding, she bought sewing machines and fabric, and began organising workshops for young girls in her community.

High demand for knowledge

“This project is just the beginning. By teaching girls how to make their own pads, they can share that knowledge with others. That’s how we spread the skills and improve life for many more girls,” Nyirongo says.

She visited six schools through the project and trained many girls in sewing.

“It’s wonderful to see how many girls have learnt this skill,” she adds. “The demand is huge. Many more have asked me to teach them how to make these products.”

Five projects received support in 2024

In addition to the project in Malawi, four other initiatives received support through the Post-Exchange Initiative in 2024:

Kenya: Local farmers received training in sustainable agriculture, beekeeping and herb cultivation. The training gives farmers more income sources and makes their crops more resilient to drought and disease.

Tanzania: Health and social workers, as well as parents, were trained to identify children with disabilities early and provide them with a better start in life.

Tanzania: A sports centre was built to provide children and young people with a safe space for football and other activities, promoting inclusion, life skills and talent development — especially for girls and children with special needs.

Uganda: Young mothers received training in sustainable farming, health education, vocational skills and civic engagement. The goal is to help them become more independent and able to start their own businesses.

The Post-Exchange Initiative is an annual grant programme open to participants who have taken part in a Norec-supported exchange. Participants can also join the Norec Network alumni community. The next call for applications will open in autumn 2026.