ZOOM IN: Sisters for the World, A New Generation of Menstrual Products

The current financial situation in Lebanon has made it very difficult for women to access sanitary menstrual products so we saw an opportunity to step in and try to fill the gap with healthy, environmental, and affordable products. 

What They Do: 

Sisters for the World are making washable, healthy, eco-friendly and affordable menstrual pads and period underwear to substitute the existing single-use, plastic, unhealthy and expensive menstrual products. The product targets all period-aged women, whether they were vulnerable women looking for affordable products, or just women who are eco-conscious and/or aware of the health hazards caused by traditional menstrual products. 

Startup Experience: 

“We applied to the STAND Up! Program in order to gain the necessary knowledge and connections that will help us launch our project. The current financial situation in Lebanon has made it very difficult for women to access sanitary menstrual products so we saw an opportunity to step in and try to fill the gap with healthy, environmental, and affordable products. 

This is why the project is very important since its main aim is to fight the rising period poverty in Lebanon and reduce plastic waste. Its timing is instrumental, in the midst of an economic and financial crisis, and it will be setting a new habit among women of using reusable products as well as helping raise awareness regarding the illnesses caused by traditional period products.  

One of our most important success factors, we believe, will be our business model based on selling our future products in France alongside Lebanon so we can guarantee the sustainability of the project. In addition, the absence of likewise competitors in Lebanon is a plus for us. 

That the negative atmosphere, brought on by the blast, collapse, and pandemic, had a toll on us mentally and impacted our work. Trying to keep your focus on work projects with a face mask on all the time, knowing that factories are shutting down and skilled people are fleeing the country, attempting to ignore the stress of catching a deadly virus, running from a café to another trying to get ahold of some internet and electricity, hearing nothing but terrible news happening in your country every day without having the opportunity to grasp what’s happening or mourn or do anything about it, all while you try to start a business in that same country.  

These are all things that unfortunately slowed us down, but on the other hand, these are the same things that remind us of the importance of our project. Lebanese people deserve to be happy and to feel capable. After everything that was stolen from us, the last thing we want to see is periods being stolen from Lebanese women, along with what’s left of their social life. We do not want to see their reproductive and mental health impaired. This is why we will insist on fighting period poverty all while protecting the environment.” 

The startup is part of the STAND Up! Accelerator program.

Josette Noujaim

Josette Noujaim

Josette is a multi-passionate creative who has been supporting Berytech’s communication team since 2015. She uses her experience in digital communication to help shape the online presence of companies across different industries.

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