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Reusable Blossom Pads (SAFE Project)

Creating Dignity. Empowering Women. Building Sustainable Futures.

Reusable Blossom Pads (SAFE Project)

Creating Dignity. Empowering Women. Building Sustainable Futures.

Since 2021, Sultana Fund's Reusable Blossom Pads (SAFE Project) has been transforming lives by addressing two of Afghanistan's most pressing challenges: period poverty and women's unemployment.

In Afghanistan, millions of women and girls face significant barriers to accessing menstrual hygiene products. Many are forced to use old cloth or other unsafe materials because sanitary products are either unavailable or unaffordable. At the same time, women continue to face severe restrictions on education, employment, and economic participation.

The SAFE Project was created to address both challenges through one sustainable solution.

Every Blossom Pad is handcrafted by Afghan women, creating meaningful employment and a reliable source of income while providing girls and women with high-quality, reusable menstrual hygiene products that restore dignity, improve health, and reduce financial hardship.

What began as a humanitarian initiative has grown into a women-led social enterprise that empowers communities from within.

Our Impact Since 2021

Over the past four years, the SAFE Project has grown into one of Afghanistan's leading community-led menstrual health initiatives.

Together, we have:

  • Produced 28,000 reusable Blossom Pad kits (84,000 reusable pads)

  • Reached an estimated 14,000 women and girls

  • Positively impacted approximately 98,000 family members

  • Created sustainable employment for 40 Afghan women

  • Distributed reusable pads across underserved communities, including families living in the Bamiyan Caves

  • Delivered menstrual health education alongside product distribution

  • Reduced period poverty while protecting the environment through reusable products

These achievements reflect four consecutive years of implementation, during which production exceeded original targets.

More Than a Menstrual Health Project

The SAFE Project is about far more than reusable pads.

It is about creating opportunities where few exist.

Women who once had no access to employment now earn an income by producing reusable pads from their homes.

Girls who once struggled to manage their periods with dignity now have access to safe, comfortable, and reusable menstrual products.

Families who could not afford monthly sanitary supplies experience lasting financial relief.

Every Blossom Pad represents dignity, opportunity, and hope.

Our Community-Led Approach

Our project is designed and led by Afghans for Afghan communities.

Each reusable pad is:

  • Handmade by Afghan women

  • Produced using a home-based production model

  • Distributed alongside menstrual health education

  • Designed to be washable, durable, and environmentally friendly

  • Reused for years, reducing household costs and environmental waste

By combining women's employment with humanitarian support, the project creates lasting impact that extends far beyond a single distribution.

Stories of Impact

For women living in the Bamiyan Caves—one of Afghanistan's most isolated communities—Blossom Pads have become more than a menstrual hygiene product.

For many, they represent dignity, confidence, and the reassurance that they have not been forgotten.

Many families have now received Blossom Pads for several consecutive years, allowing girls and women to manage their periods safely while easing the financial burden on households.

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Looking Ahead: Thanks to the continued support of our partners, the SAFE Project has been renewed for another year, allowing us to expand our impact and reach even more women and girls across Afghanistan.

Our next phase will:

  • Increase production to 10,000 reusable Blossom Pad kits

  • Expand employment opportunities for Afghan women

  • Launch a social enterprise model that combines product sales with free distribution

  • Continue providing free reusable pads to women and girls who cannot afford menstrual products

  • Expand menstrual health education to additional underserved communities

Our vision is simple:

Every woman deserves dignity. Every girl deserves opportunity. Every community deserves sustainable solutions.

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