Foot Forward Inc

WE WORK WITH TANZANIAN WOMEN ARTISANS AS THEY CREATE BEAUTIFUL, HANDMADE ARTISAN PRODUCTS. WE PROVIDE A FAIR WAGE FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL WORK, ALONG WITH UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES WHICH ENRICH THEIR LIVES AND THOSE OF THEIR FAMILIES (THIS INCLUDES CLEAN WATER ACCESSIBLE TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, ACCESS TO TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR MICRO-BUSINESS, SCHOOL FEES AND UNIFORMS, AND ENGLISH LESSONS). ULTIMATELY, AFTER EXPENSES, PROCEEDS FROM SANDALS ARE INVESTED IN US CHARITIES WHICH INVEST IN CLEAN WATER, GIRLS EDUCATION, AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH. WE HAVE NO PAID EMPLOYEES AND THOUGH COSTS FOR STARTING UP THE ORGANIZATION HAVE BEEN HIGHER (WITH POTENTIAL FOR REVENUE FROM SANDALS UNCERTAIN) WE ENDEAVOR TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ACHIEVING IMPORTANT SOCIAL GOOD FOR THE ARTISANS AND THE CHARITABLE BENEFICIARIES.

OUR COMMITMENT TO MENSTRUAL HEALTH HAS IMPACT IN TANZANIA, FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT ALSO TRANSCENDS OUR FOCUS COUNTRY IN MEANINGFUL WAYS. WE HAVE PROVIDED NEARLY 10,000 YOUNG WOMEN WITH SUPPORT DURING THEIR MENSTRUAL CYCLES, PROVIDING LOCALLY MADE (AND WOMAN MADE) ECO-FRIENDLY COMPOSTABLE SANITARY PADS, UNDERGARMENTS, AND HEALTH AND HYGIENE EDUCATION. THE PURPOSE OF THIS EFFORT IS TO ALLOW THE YOUNG WOMEN WE SERVE TO ATTEND SCHOOL WITH CONFIDENCE AND DIGNITY AND UNDERSTAND THAT MENSTRUATION IS A NORMAL BODILY FUNCTION - NOT SOMETHING OF WHICH TO BE AFRAID OR ASHAMED. WITHIN THE SCOPE OF TEACHING THEM ABOUT MENSTRUAL HEALTH, WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO IMPART BASIC HEALTH AND HYGIENE INFORMATION, SUCH AS THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING SAFE AND WASHING HANDS TO PREVENT ILLNESS. THE SCHOOLS WE SERVE IN TANZANIA ARE VISITED MULTIPLE TIMES EACH YEAR SO THAT THE GIRLS BEGIN TO KNOW OUR TEAM MEMBERS, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE ARE SHARING IS ACCURATE. THERE ARE MANY TABOOS ASSOCIATED WITH MENSTRUATION AND MUCH OF THIS FALSE NARRATIVE UNDERMINES FEMALES, IMPLYING THAT THEY ARE WEAK AND LESS WORTHY THAN THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS. AS WE BUILD GIRLS' CONFIDENCE, THEY HAVE STRONGER ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL - AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO CONTINUE SCHOOL IF THEY DO NOT HAVE ABSENCES CAUSED BY LACKING SUPPORT DURING THEIR CYCLES. FURTHER OUR SUPPORT AND TEACHINGS ALSO EXTENDS TO THE TEACHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, THE WOMEN WHO MAKE OUR PRODUCTS IN TANZANIA. FINALLY, BECAUSE OF OUR ACTIVE SUPPORT OF SO MANY GIRLS OUTSIDE OF THE US, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE IN THE US ARE ALSO EMBRACING MENSTRUAL HYGIENE EQUITY IN THEIR OWN HOMES, FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND ORGANIZATIONS. THIS ELEVATES AND AFFIRMS THE VALUE OF MANY MORE PEOPLE AROUND UNDERSTANDING MENSTRUAL HEALTH. FINALLY, WE ARE A CONSTANT SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND COUNSEL TO OTHER NON-PROFITS, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCE ENTITIES GRAPPLING WITH THE CHALLENGE OF MENSTRUAL HEALTH EQUITY. WE PROVIDE ALL OUR RESOURCES - INCLUDING MATERIALS, VIDEOS, AND OTHER GUIDANCE - TO ANY ORGANIZATION OR GROUP WHO SHARES OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.