A FORMER Nambour resident has given young women in a disadvantaged part of Papua New Guinea the gifts of confidence and dignity.

Anneli Verity has donated 200 reusable sanitary pads to the Malas Foundation, which will distribute them to teenagers and women in the New Ireland province.

The Malas Foundation approached Anneli’s small business, Her Rhythm, concerned about the challenges faced by girls and young women trying to manage their menstrual health in the province.

About 90 percent of the New Ireland population lives in isolated communities and 70 percent of the population is unemployed.

Aware that lack of access to affordable and hygienic menstrual products could affect the education, health and overall well-being of women and girls, the foundation began a search for reusable sanitary pads which led to Anneli, who makes and sells them.

She did not hesitate to donate some pads which were part of factory-made batch dating back to when she started her business

“Believe it or not, I’d had them put aside waiting for somewhere to donate them,” she said.

Anneli began making reusable sanitary pads after making reusable cloth nappies for her first child 11 years ago.

Having moved from a tiny home at Nambour to a family home at Kin Kin, she now handmakes the pads for sale at the Pomona and Kin Kin markets, online and through selected stores.

She has also published a journal to help women understand their cycle and how to use it to their advantage.

“It’s really about helping women find self-awareness and find out more about what’s happening,” she said.

“Just having more understanding of what’s coming up; being able to predict when you’re going to be more social, more withdrawn, be more creative, more productive.”

Anneli is considering organising a workshop to make more reusable pads for charity.

▶ Anyone who can donate absorbent fabric such as flannelette or terry towelling, or seamstresses who would like to help,