- Offering free-of-charge reusable ‘dignity packs’ to the estate female community
- Implementing specialised women’s health and hygiene education sessions, led by medical professionals
Horana Plantations PLC (HPL), a member of the Hayleys Plantations sector, unveiled “She-Essentia,” a groundbreaking initiative addressing period poverty and promoting menstrual health and hygiene among women and girls in the Sri Lankan plantation sector.
The “She-Essentia” initiative was recognised as a winning concept by The Centre for Child Rights and Business in their Seal Challenge 2023. This project aims to support 5,292 women and girls in the up-country cluster of estates at Horana Plantations PLC by establishing a manufacturing facility to produce sustainable, cost-effective, and reusable sanitary napkins.
A fully qualified female doctor (MBBS) was employed to lead this project and provide doorstep assistance to the female community for their menstrual health needs.
Comprehensive education on women’s health continues in an attempt to remove social stigma and cultural taboos while promoting awareness. HPL has conducted 12 sessions on menstrual health and hygiene, initially reaching 1,017 participants. Specialised women’s health and hygiene educational sessions led by medical professionals have been implemented across multiple estates, benefiting hundreds of women.
Over 570 adolescent female students participated in this programme, and it is expected that this initiative will significantly reduce school dropouts.
“Sri Lanka’s economic predicament has hit every segment of society extremely hard, but it has had a disproportionately negative impact on women and girls in vulnerable communities. The lack of awareness and access to menstrual hygiene products can lead to negative health, wellbeing, educational, and economic outcomes. With our “She-Essentia” project, we aim to directly address these systemic issues, dismantle cultural taboos surrounding menstruation, and support livelihoods in the estates,” said HPL Director/CEO, Johann Rodrigo.
He also expressed gratitude for the private and government entities that came forward to support the initiative.
The “She-Essentia” project followed a comprehensive roadmap to ensure its success. It began with surveying and identifying beneficiaries. A situation analysis and sample tests were conducted to better understand the context. Mentors were appointed, and awareness sessions on menstrual hygiene were held. The project culminated in the construction of a production unit and training unemployed women, empowering them with new skills.
Bundled into “dignity packs,” which contain enough sanitary napkins to cover one month’s requirements, are reusable for up to a year, and are distributed free of charge on a six-month cycle. To date, HPL has distributed over 1,545 packs, with plans to reach identified beneficiaries across various age groups in the company’s up-country estates. HPL conducts women’s health education seminars and has established a dedicated library with health and hygiene resources.
Using the same network created through the period poverty project, HPL subsequently initiated slipper and paper bag production, further contributing to local employment and eco-friendly practices. Income generation from these productions can be self-sustaining for the She-Essentia Project.
The “She-Essentia” production process promotes a circular economy and maximises resource efficiency. Through this initiative, young mothers who lost their livelihoods due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis have returned to the plantations with new employment opportunities. The initiative also addresses sustainability concerns by reducing non-biodegradable waste, mitigating environmental pollution, and aligning with Sri Lanka’s Carbon Net Zero 2050 Roadmap. Additionally, it supports Sri Lanka’s waste management efforts, raises awareness about menstrual health, and has the potential to reduce absenteeism and enhance productivity within the tea plantation sector.
“Since inception, this initiative has undergone several phases of development, and I’m incredibly proud of our team’s unwavering commitment. Despite the complexities involved—from sourcing sustainable fabrics to engaging women from local communities in production—they have shown remarkable dedication. This project represents just the first step in our broader vision to extend this initiative to build a dedicated space for women as well as an e-learning centre for adolescent girls across all our estates to catch up on their education,” said Hayleys Plantations Managing Director, Dr. Roshan Rajadurai.