Applied to:
This award recognises a structured social impact and inclusion strategy generating tangible and lasting value for communities, employees or society, while being embedded in the organisation’s operating model and long-term vision.
The project:
The Menstrual Health Campaign and Awareness Programme, launched by the Land & Life Foundation in collaboration with PadMad, addresses menstrual health challenges in Kenya and Tanzania. Operating under The Elewana Collection, a portfolio of 16 boutique lodges, camps, and hotels, the Foundation focuses on empowering women and girls in communities living alongside wildlife. This initiative seeks to dismantle the cultural taboo surrounding menstruation while promoting education, sustainability, and empowerment.
In many parts of Kenya and Tanzania, menstruation remains a stigmatized subject, leading to misinformation and limited access to safe sanitary products. Girls often miss school during their periods, which hinders their education and overall development. Against this backdrop, the programme has set clear objectives: to destigmatize menstruation, ensure girls can attend school without disruption, educate communities on menstrual and reproductive health, and minimize environmental harm from improper disposal of sanitary pads.
The programme implements community-wide training workshops to raise awareness about menstrual health and reproductive issues. It also distributes reusable sanitary kits to female participants. These kits are sustainable, cost-effective, and produced by marginalized women and men employed by PadMad, thereby creating economic opportunities within the community. This approach addresses both immediate needs and long-term challenges by fostering sustainability and economic empowerment.
Since its inception, the programme has reached hundreds of women and girls, reducing stigma and improving menstrual health literacy. It contributes to environmental conservation by promoting reusable products over disposable ones, aligning with the Foundation's commitment to sustainability.
The Menstrual Health Campaign and Awareness Programme exemplifies a holistic approach to community development, blending education, health, and economic empowerment. By addressing a deeply entrenched stigma and ensuring access to sustainable solutions, it creates meaningful change for women, girls, and their communities across Kenya and Tanzania.
The Hospitality Awards celebrate innovation and excellence and highlight the most creative initiatives in a sector that is constantly and rapidly changing hospitality.
