Mpower Cup

The launch of Karabo ‘fulfilling the need’

glenda — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:19:41 +0000

“At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done.

And then they begin to hope it can be done.

And then they see it can be done.

And then it is done.

And all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago.” Frances Hodges Burnett

Go to the home page and follow the links…………

Whoo hoo!!!!!

Mpower has a plan

glenda — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:09:20 +0000

And it all just rained down me………..ideas and more ideas. And most of them brilliant! I should market what I had for breakfast that day. If I could actually remember………..not that brilliant eh!!! I have worked out a way to get MPower menstrual cups out to the mass market of women who have no choice, no dignity and who truly need MPowering. In a big way that you or I could not understand, and let’s hope we never have to. I am launching an initiative called Karabo which means ‘fulfilling the need’ and is a beautiful name for a girl in Xhosa. Through this initiative corporates, compassionate women and men can pledge a cup for R195 and I distribute the MPower cups. I have an NGO on board who will link me with CBO’s (community based organisations) to train women to distribute the MPower cups to the communities where there is a need for them. Not random donations for cups that get randomly distributed to those who appear to need them but real women in real need. Sustainable MPowerment on a basic but fundamental level. Whew, I am so excited I worry my soul may explode. This is the vision I have always had. Thoughts have become things. Good thoughts have become good things. Huge vision has found itself a plan. Watch this space.

And please to my support out there who have been following my story, let me know your ideas and your networking. Africa needs this, women need this.

Mpower has a plan

glenda — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:43:33 +0000

Can you do this too?

glenda — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:20:00 +0000

Now you tell me if you can do this? The day before yesterday was the 2nd day of my period. I had a quick shower in the morning, pulled on white shorts, no underwear and left the house to take my son to the doctor. It was a quick 20 mins out and then home to get properly dressed for the day. Or so I thought…….. The doctor referred us to the ENT whom we headed straight over to and waited another hour there. One hysterically crying child later, partly trauma and partly fear that his mum would likely strangle him, and one piece of rolled up paper removed from his ear as a momento, we headed home. By this time I only had a chance to drop him off at the house and headed back into town for a meeting. From there to N1 City centre and then back to Vincent Pallotti to chat with a gynae about my cup. 30 plus degrees in the shade too I might add! Oh and did I mention that of course I was wearing my cup! Just imagine the day without it. It was so hot, I would have been feeling really gross wearing a tampon and a pad as I usually do. All that rushing around would have caused that constant worry about changing/leaking/unclean feeling. That day I certainly knew how fantastic this cup really is and how it has impacted my daily life.

Gratitude is due

glenda — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:37:19 +0000

Today I spent this morning driving around, finding myself with alot of time to think. I came to the conclusion that I am really really excited and inspired. I am currently setting up with a municipality to distribute menstrual cups through 5 clinics. My cups will finally be going to the women who truly need them. They will have their dignity restored as these are the ladies who currently use rags, toilet paper and even newspaper at times. I am driven to replicate this system I am setting up across South Africa and eventually the whole of the African continent. I cannot begin to imagine how their lives will be changed by just this one small product. This ripple effect in turn alleviates the costs of the municipality in terms of health care in the clinics for infections, less demand on the water sanitation systems and sewerage systems and refuse collection will be reduced. Not to mention the cash saved on buying sanitary ware will be in their pockets and not down the toilet-so to speak. My wish is for MPower menstrual cups to impact all women of the world!

Did you know this?

glenda — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:05:50 +0000

National and global events are showing that environmental thriftiness and access to sanitaryware up into Africa are of paramount concern, across the globe. North American television broadcasts show young girls in Africa being ostracised for bleeding and excluded for the duration of their menstruation days due to no access to sanitary ware. Women across Africa are being empowered yet are still using rags during menstruation. How truly empowered are they when they have no dignity? Women working in fields? The tampon and pad manufacturers are providing some sanitary ware but these women have nowhere to dispose of these and they are dependent on these handouts. Large sums of money are being ploughed into these items when it could be well spent feeding these women and children.

I did it!

glenda — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:16:14 +0000

And two and a half years later I did it!! Women are using my product and raving about it. It really is something to realise a dream - one that at times was so far out of reach. Today I’m wearing my Wonder Woman T-shirt for two reasons. The first because I feel amazing and am actually the real Wonder Woman. The second because I still have moments when I wonder how I pulled this off. Little old me. Miniscule and seemingly insignificant in our universe. But packed with enough power to take on that very universe!! I am grateful.