Webinars: Revisiting the MH Alliance Webinar Series of 2018

Past webinars too often tend to get forgotten, even when their content is just as useful and informative as the day it was initially delivered. In light of that, we thought we would call your attention to the content of an excellent webinar series conducted by MH Alliance, including WASH United, Simavi, World Vision and GIZ back in 2018.

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HEADS UP! Upcoming MH Events & Deadlines (September 2019)

This is a quick post to call your attention to the many interesting menstrual health and hygiene-related conferences, webinars, commemorative days, and fellowship deadlines that are quickly approaching. To help keep others posted about upcoming events and deadlines via the IMHER calendar, please use this form. UPCOMING WEBINARS: Columbia University’s “Period Posse” Webinar Series presents: Sept 11 (Wednesday) at 8:00 AM EST:  “New Research: Updates from Menstrual Trials in Kenya, Uganda & The Gambia.”  Featuring Penny Phillips-Howard, Helen Weiss, and Belen Torondel.  Register for online participation here. Oct 9 (Wednesday) at 8:00 AM EST:  “Ending the Tampon Tax: Mobilizing Policy Change in the U.S. and the U.K.”  Featuring…

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Obama Foundation Leaders Asia-Pacific Program (August Deadline)

Following the success of the 2019 Obama Foundation Leader program focused on Africa, the organization is tailoring their 2019 leadership development and civic engagement program specifically on emerging leaders in the Asia-Pacific region (but not South Asia.) Beyond residing in the applicable countries and demonstrating leadership strength, applicants must be between 24-40 years old, fluent in English, and available in the upcoming months for program participation. The deadline is approaching quickly (August 15th, 2019 at 6:00 pm Eastern Standard Time) and it is IMHER’s sense that many potential applicants doing MHM work may not know about this opportunity.

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Lessons Learned from Tanzania’s Recent Menstrual Product VAT Flip Flop

In July 2018, the Tanzanian Government removed the VAT (“Value Added Taxes”) from disposable menstrual pads , joining a small group of countries that no longer tax these items. But just one year later, the government suddenly announced that it would be fully reinstating the tax. This post discusses some potential lessons to be learned for anyone working towards the elimination of female-focused taxes in their own countries.

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HEADS UP on a Funding Opportunity: VGIF Opportunity Grants (applications due by July 26, 2019)

VGIF is offering a funding opportunity with a deadline of July 26, 2019 that may be of relevance to non-profit MHM organizations based in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and India. The grant totals $95,000 (distributed over six years), and is specifically designed to support small, community-based organizations led by women, focused on projects that improve the lives of women, girls, and non-binary or trans individuals.

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IMHER ASKS: A video profile of Kasole Secrets, based in Tanzania

This first installment of the “IMHER Asks” series provides an introduction to the work of Kasole Secrets and Hedhi Salama, based in Tanzania. In this video, founder and CEO Hyasintha Ntuyeko briefly discusses her brand of disposable menstrual pads (Glory Pads), why she began working on the issue of menstrual hygiene in Tanzania in 2010, and what has been meaningful to her in doing this work.

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Underwear-Optional Pad Innovation by The MoonCatcher Project

In this post, IMHER further drills down into the “no underwear” challenge faced by some low-income girls by examining an innovative pad design with a belt that allows girls without underwear to use a reusable pad. In a video created for IMHER, Ellie von Wellsheim of The MoonCatcher Project showcases their design, while also demonstrating the potential for IMHER to provide a platform for peer-to-peer idea-sharing across borders.

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