Tuesday, March 31, 2009

[SHE] Team Updates!!

By Joya Banerjee

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:

  • 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

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