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Eradicating menstrual poverty, one pad at a time
In collaboration with numerous non-governmental organizations, Taylor's Residence has initiated the LaunchPad Project, a student-led initiative, as part of the structured living program. Launchpad's goal is to eliminate menstruation poverty among female refugees in Malaysia by providing reusable sanitary pads, menstrual hygiene and sex education.
Malaysia shelters roughly 170,000 refugees and asylum seekers, with women accounting for 32% (60,000 women refugees); thus, proper education about reusable sanitary pads can provide a cost-effective solution by lowering the ongoing cost of disposable pads, which can be a significant burden in refugee settings.
We have rolled out LaunchPad in five distinct phases, each building upon the successes and learnings of the previous stage to continuously improve and expand its impact.
We are proud to have created instructional guides in partnership with The Design School at Taylor's University, which allow refugees to easily make reusable pads at home. These resources, available in multiple languages, have been widely embraced by refugee communities and have also helped to provide sex education materials to support their overall well-being. We believe that these guides have the potential to have a lasting impact on the lives of refugees and contribute to their empowerment.
Get started by exploring the LaunchPad resources below:
LaunchPad was launched. Through research and collaboration with refugees, we were able to prototype and develop reusable menstrual pads. We created and continuously improve our workshop program to teach trainers and refugees how to make the reusable pads. With the help of volunteers, we were able to produce and donate 500 reusable pads to the community.
refugees aided
workshops conducted
reusable pads donated
The pandemic caused a lockdown that presented challenges for our efforts to support the refugee community. To sustain our assistance to the refugee community, we created a multilingual printable tutorial that refugees could easily distribute. This tutorial enabled them to continue raising awareness about menstrual hygiene and taught them how to make their own reusable pads.
NGOs Collaborated
reusable pads donated
The Launchpad project made significant strides towards establishing a self-sustaining ecosystem focused on promoting menstrual hygiene and supporting refugee communities. These resources enabled anyone to start their own Launchpad program and make a positive contribution to their community. Our mission was to empower individuals and organisations to play an active role in addressing menstrual hygiene challenges and supporting those in need.
refugees trained as trainers
refugees aided
reusable pads donated
The Launchpad project aimed to empower refugee communities with a community-driven approach. We focused on creating a self-sustaining ecosystem for refugees to manage menstrual hygiene independently. Through this phase, our efforts included enhancing digital content and media resources for accessible menstrual hygiene education. With expanded networks of trainers and volunteers, we promoted sustainable practices and facilitated positive health outcomes.
In 2024, the Launchpad project entered an innovative phase focusing on empowerment through self-sustainability, signalling an important point in our effort to assist refugee communities. Building on the foundation of community-driven projects, this phase focuses on reskilling refugees in fundamental business and entrepreneurial skills.
refugees reskilled
cotton t-shirts donated for pad making
Pads were distributed among the refugees
Refugees made their own pads after the workshop
NGO partners to make this an outstanding journey
Comfortable, clean & save money.
It's good. Much more comfortable, i will try using it next period.
It will be much better than the usual clothes that i usually use.
In addition to providing essential knowledge and tools for managing menstrual health, Launchpad also equips refugee women with the skills to produce reusable sanitary pads, creating income-generating opportunities that promote economic independence.
“Partnering with Taylor’s Residence on the LaunchPad project enables us to extend our mission by providing 600 pieces of cotton for reusable sanitary pads, addressing menstrual hygiene among refugee women and girls, and reinforcing our commitment to sustainable practices.
