Papilio Reusable Menstrual pad is a very comfortable and money-saving product, made from high quality fabric.
To address this issue of period poverty, PAPILIO, a reusable menstrual pad brand, was launched first in the Southwest Region of Cameroon and has extended to several other African counties and Haïti.
More than 70% of the girls we walked to have never used a sanitary pad. They depend on toilet tissue, rags, old newspapers and even grass. Because of this, the chances of them staining their uniforms and clothes are very high, given also the absence of female-friendly toilets in school and public places. For this reason, they skip school because it is easier to handle these challenges at home, out of the unfriendly public scrutiny.
To provide girls with affordable and permanent alternatives, RINOO provide these girls with reusable pads they can depend on to have their periods in dignity.
Beyond the education, we have opened In Cameroon a tailoring workshop dedicated to the production of menstrual sanitary pads that currently employs over 20 permanent and 30 part-time workers (mainly single mothers) . The workshop has a capacity of over 60,000 pads a year.
The pads produced from cotton, technical waterproof fabric and absorbent microfiber ensure that users stay healthy, dry and comfortable during their period.
The single mothers, producing these pads, earn a decent wage, have paid leave and a social security. Papilio is therefore not only providing a solution to period poverty, but also employing vulnerable women who otherwise might end on streets in order to survive.
To us, Papilio is not just a product, it is a bridge where the conversation that will end the menstruation taboo starts. Menstruation is not a curse, It is where life actually starts.
Research and Development of the pads by Hanne Decloedt, Gent - Belgium. (padpower.org)
To empower teenage mothers and pursue their dreams
A full-time daycare for children aged 0-3 years.
An after school study program for primary school kids below 11 years of age
Study space for secondary, high school and university students.
Created with a grant from "PROVINCIE OOST-VLAANDEREN - Belgium"; launched February 2022.
Our local partner, ROYALTYWORLD, has set up an extensive scholarship program.
The program is supported by the income from PAPILIO sanitary pad production.
For the 2022/23 school year, the number of scholarship students could be doubled to 121 young people thanks to MENDEM Foundation and the 'Career Parents Program'
RINOO is investing in sensitization young GIRLS and BOYS in (menstrual) Hygiene, sexuality and relationships.
RINOO is cooperating with PLAN INTERNATIONAL to train young girls in pads sewing, entrepreneurship skills
To internationalize the solar kiosk project of "Solar Without Borders - SOLERGIE", a 'Kit Solar Kiosk' was designed.
The kit is operational in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DRC and Kenya
An innovation based social enterprise, a maker space, tech lab, digital creative art workshop and co-working facility.
Empowering young entrepreneurs ventures for wealth creation, assisting young persons to acquire employable skills in technology, digital creative art, and entrepreneurship.
To replace the fragile Calabaz-lamp, a new lamp was developed for rental in the solar kiosks of "SOLAR WITHOUT BORDERS".
The Led-lamps are a cheap and clean alternative to kerosene lamps.
RINOO Belgium
For over 25 years, 4 private apartments have been providing accommodation to people with a migration background, people in supervised housing, young adults whose supervision has expired, ...
A non-profit organization "RINOO lighting-Lumière" was founded as a result of a close collaboration with the project "SOLAR WITHOUT BORDERS - SOLERGIE".
RINOO developed a special LED lamp which gave the Energy Kiosks a new boost.
(read more)
RINOO Cameroon
A wide variety of projects were started with the common goal of giving people opportunities to develop their talents and build a better wealthy and welfare life.
The driving force behind these projects is the local non-profit organization "ROYALTY WORLD" with Doris NGUM as its figurehead.
(read more)
The projects are locally anchored in a recently established company "RINOO CAMEROON Ltd".
(read more)
RINOO Sierra Leone
Mariatu started her menstrual hygiene project during university when she noticed that adolescent girls have little or no knowledge about menstruation.
She is so passionate in this cause and, at the age of 27, she wants to lead the period movement in Sierra Leone.
However she is very young, she yet has realized a wide range of actions with her associotion:
‘Resilient in Empowerment and Advocacy for Life Skills’ association (REALSL - @ResilientSL).