Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE Innovates)
Description: Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE) uses market-based approaches to jump start businesses that yield a social and financial return on investment in developing countries, especially in the health sector. Its first spin-out business is sanitary pad franchising to stem the significant costs of girls and women not having access to affordable, eco-friendly sanitary pads when they menstruate.
Team Members:
Christina Lagos (GHP)
Joya Banerjee (GHP)
Jamie Zweibel (SHDH)
Melody Eckardt (GHP)
Organization Leader: Elizabeth Scharpf
Project Scope: The HSPH team is working on the launch phase of the first venture, sanitary napkins in Rwanda. We hope to propose a method of introducing the product and a distribution model that will be effective in rural and urban areas.
Deliverables:
Description: Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE) uses market-based approaches to jump start businesses that yield a social and financial return on investment in developing countries, especially in the health sector. Its first spin-out business is sanitary pad franchising to stem the significant costs of girls and women not having access to affordable, eco-friendly sanitary pads when they menstruate.
Team Members:
Christina Lagos (GHP)
Joya Banerjee (GHP)
Jamie Zweibel (SHDH)
Melody Eckardt (GHP)
Organization Leader: Elizabeth Scharpf
Project Scope: The HSPH team is working on the launch phase of the first venture, sanitary napkins in Rwanda. We hope to propose a method of introducing the product and a distribution model that will be effective in rural and urban areas.
Deliverables:
- Determine what type of education and/or curriculum should accompany the distribution of sanitary pads
- Research existing educational methods for hygiene practices and organizations that are running these kinds of programs.
- Research potential barriers to purchase and use of sanitary pads apart from financial constraints.
- Identify ways to address these in a culturally appropriate manner
Research and propose successful approaches to talking about taboo issues - Propose a advocacy & fundraising campaign for the United States focused on the problem (missing school/ work due to lack of access to sanitary supplies and the unsustainability of donation-based approaches)
- Create media coverage of the venture in MA and at Harvard
- Propose an advocacy campaign for Rwanda to create a demand market
- Analyze data from Rwanda Survey and explore possibilities for publishing
- Determine whether or not outside organizations such as PSI be involved
- Research negative health outcomes from use of raw materials as sanitary products