Education
Awareness
Committment
Legacy Empowerment Foundation Partners with Network of Women NOW to Address Period Poverty in Rwanda
Network of Women NOW is proud to announce a new partnership with the Legacy Empowerment Foundation (LEF) to support the expansion of the EmpowerED Hygiene Initiatives in Rwanda.
Period poverty remains a significant challenge for girls and young women worldwide. It occurs when individuals lack access to menstrual products, hygiene education, and adequate sanitation facilities needed to manage menstruation safely and with dignity.
The consequences extend far beyond menstrual health. Girls who cannot access menstrual products often experience shame, anxiety, and social stigma. Many miss valuable classroom time during their menstrual cycles, and some eventually leave school altogether. In Rwanda, hundreds of thousands of adolescent girls face barriers related to menstrual health and hygiene management each year.
Through this partnership, LEF will serve as a sponsor for Network of Women NOW's EmpowerED Hygiene Initiative Rwanda, supporting efforts to increase access to reusable, chemical-free menstrual care products and menstrual health education.
The initiative aims to facilitate the procurement, shipping, handling, production, and distribution of reusable menstrual products, with a goal of reaching between 3,000 and 5,000 girls and women by August 2026.
"This partnership represents an important step toward ensuring that girls have both the knowledge and resources they need to manage their menstrual health with confidence and dignity," said Deidra Mwalimu, Founder and CEO of Network of Women NOW.
In addition to product distribution, the initiative promotes sustainable solutions through the use of reusable menstrual products and supports broader conversations about personal hygiene, menstrual health, and educational equity.
How You Can Help
Community members, donors, and supporters can contribute by helping purchase raw materials, sewing tools, and production supplies needed to create reusable menstrual products. Financial contributions designated for this initiative will directly support production and distribution efforts in Rwanda.
Individuals interested in supporting this work or learning more about the project's logistics and needs are encouraged to contact:
Mrs. Ryan McGonigle
Special Events Committee Chair
Legacy Empowerment Foundation
Email: rmcgonigle@legacyrw.org
Together, we can help ensure that no girl misses educational opportunities because of a lack of access to menstrual health resources.
“The Unforgetting” Animated Film
“The Unforgetting” is an animated film about Zola, a young girl who begins her first menstrual cycle while at school. What could have been a moment of confusion or shame becomes something entirely different when she returns home where her mother and grandmother meet her not with silence, but with care, recognition, and celebration.
The film captures a simple but powerful truth: how we respond to a girl’s first period can shape how she understands her body, her worth, and her place in the world. Through warmth, presence, and intergenerational support, The Unforgetting shows what it looks like to create a memory rooted in dignity rather than fear.
This story reflects the values and real-world advocacy of Network of Women NOW, whose work centers on restoring education, support, and culturally grounded practices for girls navigating reproductive milestones. The film is an extension of that work—helping families, schools, and communities imagine healthier, more affirming ways to show up for girls.
Thank you for witnessing Zola’s story.
EmpowerED Hygiene Initiative in Rwanda
In February 2026, Network of Women NOW partnered with the Rwanda Children Christian School to teach menstrual hygiene to mothers in the feeding and family malnutrition program. The women welcomed us the a traditional Rwandan greeting, song in their native language, Rinyarwandan.
The SPARSH–NOW Project: Stitching Dignity, Strengthening Futures in India
In Gadchiroli, India—where access to reproductive health resources is scarce and many young women struggle in silence, two organizations joined hands to spark change. Society for Peoples Action in Rural Service & Health (SPARSH), a trusted community-based organization woven into the heart of the region, partnered with Network of Women NOW to create a powerful initiative focused on menstrual equity, education, and economic opportunity.
Together, they launched sewing cooperatives that teach women and single mothers how to create reusable sanitary pads and period panties. The one of the goals of this project is to create products that support hygiene while generating income for their families. Alongside this skill-building, girls in local schools participate in EmpowerED Hygiene classes, learning not just about their bodies, but about confidence, leadership, and their right to thrive.
Mothers stand taller. Girls feel prepared. Communities gain knowledge and pride.
The SPARSH–NOW Project is more than a program, it is a movement of empowerment, dignity, and self-reliance. With every stitch and every lesson, women are creating a future where no girl’s potential is limited by her period.
Deidra Mwalimu Honored with the Everett G. Powers Fund for Creativity Award
Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge proudly announces Deidra Mwalimu, CEO & founder of Network of Women NOW, as the recipient of the third annual Everett G. Powers Fund for Creativity Award for her EmpowerED Hygiene Initiative.
This project addresses personal hygiene and reproductive health disparities in underserved Louisiana communities through creative and educational approaches, integrating resources like the EmpowerED Hygiene Workbook and arts-based workshops to empower young women with essential knowledge and skills.
Combatting Period Poverty
Increasing Menstrual Equity
Promoting Personal Hygiene
