Empowering and Educating girls.
Period.
Period.
About US
Founded by Jessie Ridgeway, at the age of 17, African Sisterhood is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating
opportunities for young women in Africa to pursue an education by providing them with feminine hygiene products.
Tragically, an estimated 36% of school-aged girls in Kenya are forced to drop out of school due to the lack of feminine
hygiene products - causing them to miss extended periods of class time during menses. Studies show that when
provided with these products, the drop-out rate among female students is reduced to just 8%.
Proof that something so simple works!
African Sisterhood was created to help fill the demand for feminine hygiene products in rural areas of Africa. Women and girls
especially in low income regions, often face a lack of access to menstrual products. Without proper sanitary supplies,
they resort to using dirty rags, leaves and corn husks to manage their periods. African Sisterhood removes this problem
by assembling and distributing feminine care kits to young women in need. The goal is simple: Empower girls by eliminating
obstacles to education and providing them with hope, opportunity, and a chance for a brighter future.
How It Works:
Volunteers in the United States, and even Europe produce feminine hygiene pads constructed from 100% cotton flannel and 100%
cotton woven fabric. Pads are easily washable and each pad can last approximately three years. Plans are to train young women in
Kenya to assemble the pads themselves, with fabric and material donated. In addition to the pads, new cotton underwear and
wash cloths, as well as a new or gently used drawstring bags, are also collected by volunteers.
We provide each girl with:
Each kit comes packed inside a drawstring backpack and includes:
(7) Reusable feminine pads
(2) One-gallon Ziplock bag
(2) Pair of new cotton underwear
(1) Wash cloth
(1) Bar of soap (purchased in Africa)
Instructions on feminne hygiene and how to care for the pads
Personalized note
For Only $11.50 African Sisterhood
is able to provide one feminine
hygiene kit that will last
approx. 3 years
Founded by Jessie Ridgeway, at the age of 17, African Sisterhood is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating
opportunities for young women in Africa to pursue an education by providing them with feminine hygiene products.
Tragically, an estimated 36% of school-aged girls in Kenya are forced to drop out of school due to the lack of feminine
hygiene products - causing them to miss extended periods of class time during menses. Studies show that when
provided with these products, the drop-out rate among female students is reduced to just 8%.
Proof that something so simple works!
African Sisterhood was created to help fill the demand for feminine hygiene products in rural areas of Africa. Women and girls
especially in low income regions, often face a lack of access to menstrual products. Without proper sanitary supplies,
they resort to using dirty rags, leaves and corn husks to manage their periods. African Sisterhood removes this problem
by assembling and distributing feminine care kits to young women in need. The goal is simple: Empower girls by eliminating
obstacles to education and providing them with hope, opportunity, and a chance for a brighter future.
How It Works:
Volunteers in the United States, and even Europe produce feminine hygiene pads constructed from 100% cotton flannel and 100%
cotton woven fabric. Pads are easily washable and each pad can last approximately three years. Plans are to train young women in
Kenya to assemble the pads themselves, with fabric and material donated. In addition to the pads, new cotton underwear and
wash cloths, as well as a new or gently used drawstring bags, are also collected by volunteers.
We provide each girl with:
Each kit comes packed inside a drawstring backpack and includes:
(7) Reusable feminine pads
(2) One-gallon Ziplock bag
(2) Pair of new cotton underwear
(1) Wash cloth
(1) Bar of soap (purchased in Africa)
Instructions on feminne hygiene and how to care for the pads
Personalized note
For Only $11.50 African Sisterhood
is able to provide one feminine
hygiene kit that will last
approx. 3 years
Jessie is inspired by a quote from Sidney Smith
"It is the greatest of all mistakes to do noting because you can only do little - do what you can."
"It is the greatest of all mistakes to do noting because you can only do little - do what you can."
Senator Tom Umber
WOMEN OF DISTINCTION
MARCH 19, 2020
Jessie is honored to be nominated for this prestigious award.
Due to the Cover 19 pandemic, this event has been postponed.
WOMEN OF DISTINCTION
MARCH 19, 2020
Jessie is honored to be nominated for this prestigious award.
Due to the Cover 19 pandemic, this event has been postponed.
WHY WAS AFRICAN SISTERHOOD CREATED?
In 2016, while on safari with her family, Jessie learned of the struggle girls in rural, impoverished areas of Kenya experience in managing their menstruation. While spending the day at an orphanage, Jessie bonded with many of the girls; they shared their similarities and differences in
their cultures. This is when Jessie learned of the disproportional school drop out rate among girls compared to boys, she also learned that when girls are forced to drop out of school, they often become childhood brides. Jessie spent the rest of her time in Kenya learning more about the culture and their daily struggles. Realizing it wasn't out of lack of love from their families that these girls didn't have access to feminine products, but a lack on affordability. When faced with a choice of feeding their family or providing feminine products, the choice becomes obvious.
Upon returning to the United States, Jessie continued to research how to solve this problem. She talked about supplying girls with the cup, but this had it's own share of obstacles. She communicated with friends in Kenya, talked to people in the States doing similar work and after a number of months came up with a pad design as well as an entire feminine hygiene kit. She developed a system to allow girls to take control of and management their cycle and enable them to attend school while on their cycle. At times, she questioned how one girl from California can make a difference? She remained focused and determined to help those she could.
In 2018, as a senior in high school, she applied to make African Sisterhood a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. January 2019 became the official the birth of African Sisterhood, when Jessie was granted the nonprofit status. With a goal of helping the 20+ girls she had befriended, she started organizing sew events and procuring donations of supplies. After her first big sew event, she realized she could help more young ladies. In the summer of 2019, we supplied over 300 complete kits to girls at orphanages, schools and a rescue center. We left additional supplies and taught them how to make their own pads by hand.
Thanks to our many volunteers, we continue to educate young women in Kenya and are branching out to other African countries.
their cultures. This is when Jessie learned of the disproportional school drop out rate among girls compared to boys, she also learned that when girls are forced to drop out of school, they often become childhood brides. Jessie spent the rest of her time in Kenya learning more about the culture and their daily struggles. Realizing it wasn't out of lack of love from their families that these girls didn't have access to feminine products, but a lack on affordability. When faced with a choice of feeding their family or providing feminine products, the choice becomes obvious.
Upon returning to the United States, Jessie continued to research how to solve this problem. She talked about supplying girls with the cup, but this had it's own share of obstacles. She communicated with friends in Kenya, talked to people in the States doing similar work and after a number of months came up with a pad design as well as an entire feminine hygiene kit. She developed a system to allow girls to take control of and management their cycle and enable them to attend school while on their cycle. At times, she questioned how one girl from California can make a difference? She remained focused and determined to help those she could.
In 2018, as a senior in high school, she applied to make African Sisterhood a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. January 2019 became the official the birth of African Sisterhood, when Jessie was granted the nonprofit status. With a goal of helping the 20+ girls she had befriended, she started organizing sew events and procuring donations of supplies. After her first big sew event, she realized she could help more young ladies. In the summer of 2019, we supplied over 300 complete kits to girls at orphanages, schools and a rescue center. We left additional supplies and taught them how to make their own pads by hand.
Thanks to our many volunteers, we continue to educate young women in Kenya and are branching out to other African countries.
HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME?
African Sisterhood was the first name Jessie came up with. It was inspired when one of the girls at the orphanage asked if she would be her sister.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE GIRL?
When girls receive an education, they marry later and have fewer children. They and their communities live a healthier lifestyle and
have better educated children. Investing in female education, increases economic and agricultural productivity and increases her
personal earning potential, as well as reduce poverty in her community. Studies show that women tend to reinvest 90% of their
earnings into their families and communities, therefore living a healthier lifestyle and improving education of future generations.
have better educated children. Investing in female education, increases economic and agricultural productivity and increases her
personal earning potential, as well as reduce poverty in her community. Studies show that women tend to reinvest 90% of their
earnings into their families and communities, therefore living a healthier lifestyle and improving education of future generations.
WHY DO WE PROVIDE REUSABLE PADS?
By providing young women with reusable pads, eliminates the monthly struggle females experience to access to feminine products each month. Having their own personal pads gives them the ability to manage their needs. Furthermore, reusable pads are better for the environment, eliminating unnecessary excessive waste. In the long run, they are less expensive than one use, disposable pads. In addition, teaching them how to make the pads provides greater empowerment for future needs and to meet the needs of their community.
For Only $11.50 African Sisterhood
is able to provide one feminine
hygiene kit that will last
approx. 3 years.
is able to provide one feminine
hygiene kit that will last
approx. 3 years.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
~ Helen Keller ~
~ Helen Keller ~
To make a financial or product donation, host a sewing party,
or serve as a volunteer, please contact us:
African Sisterhood
5318 E. Second Street, #137
Long Beach, CA 90803
Email: Africansisterhood@aol.com
Website: www.africansisterhood.org
Phone: (562) 708-9016
" I want every girl to know that her voice can change the world."
~ Malala ~
or serve as a volunteer, please contact us:
African Sisterhood
5318 E. Second Street, #137
Long Beach, CA 90803
Email: Africansisterhood@aol.com
Website: www.africansisterhood.org
Phone: (562) 708-9016
" I want every girl to know that her voice can change the world."
~ Malala ~
