NEW YORK (CNN) – Freweini Mebrahtu of Ethiopia, who designed and patented a reusable menstrual pad for girls in her country who do not have access to sanitary pads, is awarded the 2019 CNN Hero of the Year.
Freweini Mebrahtu has dedicated her life to keeping girls in school by designing a reusable menstrual pad and trying to end the cultural stigma around the issue — and because of her work, she has been named the 2019 CNN Hero of the Year.
“Thank you. Thank you so much. I don’t even know what to say,…” Freweini said when receiving the award. “I am so humbled and grateful for CNN to do this recognition for me. This is for all the girls, and women, everywhere. Dignity for all… Finally, period is getting its moment…”
Freweini, who is from Ethiopia and studied chemical engineering at Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas), designed and patented a reusable menstrual pad in 2005. She and her team produce 750,000 reusable pads a year at her factory in Ethiopia. Nearly 800,000 girls and women have benefited from her work.
In Ethiopia — and many other parts of the world — menstruation is still considered taboo. According to UNICEF, the subject is generally not taught in schools and most girls never discuss it with another person. Disposable sanitary products are very expensive and often unavailable, so nearly 75% of Ethiopian women and girls don’t have access to the menstrual supplies they need to manage their periods.
The situation has serious consequences. On average, one in 10 girls in Ethiopia miss school for reasons related to their periods; in some rural areas, this increases almost 50%. Missing school can lead girls to fall behind in class and eventually drop out.
Freweini believes no girl should miss school because of her period.
In 2005, she designed and patented a reusable menstrual pad. Today, she and her team produce 750,000 pads a year at her Mariam Seba Sanitary Products Factory, named for her daughter.
Since 2009, nearly 800,000 girls and women have benefited from her work.
Read more about Freweini Mebrahtu