Project Title: Afric’up: Ya Soma: Menstrual Cups for Burkina Faso

Location: Burkina Faso

Grant Amount: $34,991

Grantee Website: barkafoundation.org

Areas of Impact: Economic Sustainability, Education & Literacy, Gender Equality, Health

Mission of The BARKA Foundation
BARKA empowers the people of Burkina Faso to thrive by partnering with communities to break the poverty cycle – permanently. BARKA’s work focuses on Water, Women, and Agriculture.

Summary
This project empowers women by breaking the silence around menstruation and providing them with a sustainable, cost-effective menstrual hygiene solution (menstrual cups) that is ideal for low-income, water-stressed countries like Burkina Faso. It also allows women to pursue their educational and economic goals and become fully-participating members of their community.

Why We Love This
The BARKA Foundation is deeply respectful and connected to the communities it serves. This fosters a greater investment from the entire community, brings them into the decision-making process of project implementation, and enables greater autonomy and local leadership – all of which are key to sustaining long-term benefits and impacts after project completion.