Molly

Molly established her sewing unit in October 2018. It’s located two hours from Kolkata in an area where human trafficking is rife.

A professional fashion designer and seamstress, Molly provides free training in sewing and tailoring to young women in the local area. After graduation, the women go on to make JoPads and other garments and are paid a decent wage. Molly created the designs for the 4 different styles of JoPad.

Molly has dedicated herself to supporting women and helping them to gain financial independence and support their families. The sewing unit is also a sanctuary where the young women who train and work there can learn, chat, share concerns and develop friendships.

Molly is also committed to educating girls and women about the importance of safe sanitary protection and preventing illness. She regularly visits local communities and schools to talk about the benefits of ensuring good menstrual health. She even does product demonstrations in the women’s carriage of the local train and now has quite a few customers on her commute to work!

JoPad producers

The young women who train and work at Molly’s Sewing Unit come from the local towns and villages.

Most of the women have received a basic level of education but left school at 14 because their families were unable to pay for their continued education.

The women typically spend the money they earn on basic necessities for the family and some have bought sewing machines to sew at home and enhance their income by doing local stitching work.

They also top up their income by earning commission on JoPads they sell to their friends and family.

The women in Molly’s Sewing Unit develop friendships and support each other. They share concerns about potential traffickers operating in the area and advice on staying safe.

The women aspire to financial independence and to be able to support their families and other people in their communities.

The JoPad

The JoPad is made of 3 fabrics:

1. The breathable waterproof fabric is a laminated polyester

2. The absorbent interior layer is made from bamboo cotton

3. The charcoal grey section is made from soft polyester microfleece

   And it comes in 4 styles:

Light, Medium, Heavy and Nightcare, which is specially designed to be worn when lying down.

It can be washed by machine or hand. Each pack contains water purification tablets, a free sachet of detergent and an airtight zip-lock bag in which to store the JoPads between use.

Customers are given care instructions, an explanation, and a demonstration on how to use and care for their sanitary towels.

Each JoPad costs the equivalent of £1. They can be washed and reused multiple times and can last for 3-5 years with proper care.