A Rwandan social entrepreneur focused on improving reproductive, maternal and child health in Africa.

Social stigmas and cultural taboos surrounding menstruation exacerbate the issue of girls and women missing school and work in Rwanda. According to research conducted in 2016 by Sustainable Health Enterprises, 18% of women and girls in Rwanda are unable to attend work or school because they cannot afford menstrual pads. The repercussions of this silenced discourse on women's bodies and the consequent absenteeism from school during menstruation have been further heightened by the pandemic. The combined impact of these factors poses a threat to girls' life opportunities, leading to decreased academic performance, reduced confidence, higher rates of grade repetition, increased risk of pregnancy, and dropout rates. These outcomes, in turn, have adverse effects on women's health and economic growth.

Blandine Umuziranenge, the founder and CEO of Kosmotive, established the social enterprise in 2014 with the aim of enhancing Reproductive, Maternal, and Child Health across Rwanda and Africa as a whole. Kosmotive's mission is to expand access to menstrual, maternal, and child health information and products, as well as healthcare services, to underserved populations.
Through initiatives such as Cosmos Magazine, the KosmoHealth App and Helpline, as well as the provision of empowerment tools like the KosmoWearables collection of maternity and nursing wear, and the KosmoPads reusable sanitary pads, Kosmotive champions feminine liberation despite menstrual challenges.

KosmoPads, being eco-friendly, cost-effective, and reusable, offer underprivileged girls the opportunity to remain in school throughout the year without missing classes during their menstrual cycles.
"As girls and women break the silence about menstruation and benefit financially from making and selling pads, they come to see their periods as a source of pride and power. With KosmoPads, we are investing in girls’ education, women’s health and the planet; one pad at a time!" explains Blandine.

For more informations: https://kosmotive.rw
Adapted from: https://www.lionessesofafrica.com/blog/2023/10/15/startup-story-of-bland...