Every lady remembers that one-time auntie flow aka periods came visiting unexpectedly? At work, School, or In town maybe! everyone has a story. Whether it is a story of unpreparedness or perhaps a surprise, wondering what to do. Often it’s not the thought of it that resonates but often it is the panic about what to do next. I must admit that it can be a nightmare. Something that Felix Sambai of Sambai stores has taken it upon himself. He is determined to provide a solution for that lady in that situation by availing free sanitary towels for menstrual emergencies.
How to access the free sanitary towels
So, I first interacted with Felix through a phone call when I visited his shop only to find it closed. However, there was this prompt on the door of a phone number one can reach out to in case the shop is closed. How gracious! Right above is a note that reads ‘free sanitary towels here.’ Which is the reason why I am engaging you today.
Five minutes later, he is here and ready to listen to me, himself. And yes, it is a matter of just requesting it and you are handed it. It helps that Felix is an accommodative, soft-spoken person who talks freely.
Well, Felix Sambai is an entrepreneur based in Eldoret. He has a menstrual hygiene support initiative, whereby he gives out sanitary towels for free in cases of a period emergency. Sambai Stores is located at Safina Plaza in Eldoret Town.
The Free sanitary towels Initiative
Felix has been doing this since 2020. He cites that most of his clients are women. Therefore, his main motivation is that there are incidences where several of them have asked him if he would have any pads at the shop by any chance. And through that, he noticed the ‘predicament’ that comes with being in an emergency need of them. Therefore, by availing of them, the ladies can then be able to go about their activities without ‘their day being ruined’ as Sambai expresses it.
Felix runs a shelve renting business in Eldoret where he works with other businesses and helps them market their products.
For Sambai however, the initiative just stemmed out of a need gap. And this need gap has often led to vices like period shaming/stigmatization. He believes that his socialization growing up enabled him to be comfortable with such encounters and any other topics about women and their well-being. Something that is not the case with a lot of people, especially men.
“I can say I have grown up with an understanding of women, and their needs. This, for instance, is just a natural process of the body. I don’t see why it should be discriminated against, or it should affect the perception towards somebody. That’s why am very free when talking about it, and try as much as I can to be of help. ”
Truth be told, women face period stigma every other day and the results of such have even led to death. This year alone, period stigma has been a subject of discussion in every platform possible in our country. And the activists/champions themselves have been victimized. Casing point Gloria Orwoba, who walked in for a senate session with ‘stained’ clothes in an attempt to vocally create awareness dubbed “walk the talk”
Concerns towards eradicating period stigma
With this perception, therefore, Sambai’s initiative, together with catering to women, is determined to push the conversation amongst men as well. He believes the first step is by empowering men on understanding women and their needs so that they can be able to accommodate them in society and be of help.
“I also wanted to bring the male perspective into women’s lives. It’s not just about the menses and pads but it should be a bigger conversation about women’s general well-being. The period stigma and the undermining just because one is a woman, is unacceptable.” Said Sambai.
“ The issue of embarrassment wouldn’t even be that prevalent, because instead of judging and making fun, somebody would be offering ways to help the situation.” He added.
To an extent, Sambai believes that it is slowly taking shape in the right direction.
“I am trying to create a form of influence to be able to create awareness, change negative opinions as well as support ladies around us. For that, I plan on engaging some renowned personalities in Eldoret to speak to it.”
Going into the future
A look through his records paints a true picture of the progress that the free sanitary towels initiative has made in reaching numbers.
And more interestingly, some of those women have been back to contribute more pads so that the project impacts more lives. Which is a good sign of creating awareness as well as getting more support to push the agenda further.
“ We sometimes do partnerships that involve donating some, maybe a box or so to those in need at the particular time.
Currently, I am trying to work out an initiative with turbo girls. I would like to get some support such that every girl that needs the menstrual products support can have someone standing by them throughout and catering for those needs.”
According to Sambai, in comparison to the government catering for lunch in institutions, so should they invest in long-term solutions for students, such as reusable menstrual hygiene products to provide a lasting solution in supporting the female pupils and students?
To create more impact, Sambai welcomes any form of support to the initiative as well as partners to create more awareness and consequently impact more lives.
“Support can be brought in terms of the pads themselves. Sometimes in terms of funds, we do buy pads and account for the funds by providing receipts. Also, we sometimes partner with other organizations to facilitate initiatives that involve promoting menstrual hygiene.”
Sambai suggests that education on such things both in school and the society at an early palatable age would create so much change and I wouldn’t agree more.
