International Day of Disabled persons was proclaimed in 1992 by the UN General Assembly. The theme for 2017 is “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all”. At Faytex, we are an equal opportunity employer and so we were asked to speak at the Stakeholder Consultation on Ghana’s draft report on the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (UNCRPD) at the Ghana Press Center in Accra. Officially, there are 737000 disabled persons in Ghana, unofficially this number is most likely to be threefold.
Mr. Kwamena Dadzie Dennis, Executive Secretary of National Council on persons with disability (NCPD) opened the session. The chairman took all stockholders through the draft report based on a review of the actual execution of the 1992 constitution. We on the other hand presented stakeholders such as ‘Center for the employment for people with disabilities’, 'Ghana society of physically disabled’, 'NCDP’, 'Department of Social Welfare’ and 'Ghana Blind Union' with business opportunities that we have available for persons with disabilities in Ghana. We have created a new social project called making “The Disabled - Able" that will allow disabled persons to become a faytex distributor which allows them in return to become a small business owner.
Through a sign language interpreter, the deaf could easily follow all that was discussed
Pssstttt….. working on a new project …. with @autismambassadorsgh @alice_mamaga_autism it’s going to be great ! Can’t wait to roll this out #menstruation collaboration #menstrualhygiene x #autism !!!! #faytexcaresforyou #faytex #ghana #corporatesocialresponsibility #makeachange #westafrica #accra #equalopportunity #brandcollaboration #disability is not an #inability All #girls bleed @tigoghana @reachforchangeafrica #digitalchangemaker #tigo #reachforchangeafrica (bij Greater Accra Region)
We @faytexsanitary take a stand against #gender based #violence. #16days #orangetheworld Break the silence when you witness #violence against #women and #girls ! Do not sit back ! ACT - Violence against women & #children affects us all #orangetheworld16daysagainstviolence #unwomen #16daysofactivism @unwomen #faytexcares #accra #ghana #westafrica manufacturing #sanitarypads (bij Greater Accra Region)
We are delighted to welcome Ghanaian #celebrity and advocate for #women in #entrepreneurship #girlseducation #maternalhealth @theanitaerskine visiting our factory in #Accra today ! #faytexsanitary #sanitary are #madeinghana 💥 #factorytour #celebrityvisit #jointhemovement #menstruation (bij Greater Accra Region)
Look for us everywhere coming to all stores near you ! #ghana #accra #kumasi #sanitarypads #organic #maternitypads #menstruation #period #menses #hygiene #cleanenvironment #madeinghana #supportlocalbusiness
Everyone talks reproductive rights no one talks #menstruation ! We are making menstruation normal again! #periodnails anyone ? #weallbleed #weallbleedred #period #menses #menstrualcycle #womenrights #reproductiverights #accra #ghana #westafrica #chemicalfree #organic
Consulting Faytex, a sneek peak of the life: As you can see from the posts it has been a busy few month at the pad manufactury…
Faytex is just not any other pad brand it is so much more. Not only are the pads safe for maternity & sanitary care… the mission is to aid to the advancement of women in Ghana!
You might wonder if it is a social company? No it isnt. It is a private company with a purpose. Corporate Social Responsibility is an important part of the company but if there arent enough sales a part of the CSR cant be completed such as free donations. However through strategic partners menstrual hygiene management seminars and other social projects can still take place. Therefore Faytex values next to its customers and other stakehlolders - its partners so much.
New partnership:
The pad manufacturer has now made new partnerships with Power to Girls Foundation. This particular organisation is lead by an amazing, passionately gender oriented young woman named Aisha Addo. She is the Founder and main driver behind Power To Girls Foundation. The foundation aims to empower girls within the Canadian diaspora to believe in themselves and provide leadership and mentorship opportunities. Being of Ghanaian descent herself, she organises a lot of empowering events in Ghana. Due to the fact that Aisha is a real go getter and doesnt wait for change to happen but makes the change we partnered up with her.
Day of the Girl :
Ms. Addo had invited Faytex to Day of the Girl on Wednesday the 11th of October 2017 which is International Day of the Girl Child. This is the international observance day declared by the United Nations. The observation supports more opportunity for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide. This inequality includes areas such as access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, protection from discrimination, violence against women and forced child marriage. The celebration of the day also reflects the successful emergence of girls and young women as a distinct cohort in development policy, programming, campaigning and research. Many global development plans do not include or consider girls, and their issues become “invisible.” More than 62 million girls around the world have no access to education. Worldwide and collectively, girls between the ages 5 to 14 spend more than 160 million hours more on household chores than boys of the same age. The Day of the Girl helps raise awareness not only of the issues that girls face, but also what is likely to happen when those problems are solved. For example, educating girls helps reduce the rate of child marriage, disease and helps strengthen the economy by helping girls have access to higher paying jobs.
Power To Girls collaborated not only with us but worked in partnership with Cross Roads International, The High Commission of Canada, Girls Education Initiative of Ghana and Women in Law & Development Africa.
The conference took place in Osu Presbyterian Hall, Accra with motivational speakers such as Dr. Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings, MP (daughter of ex- President Jerry Rawlings, 1st President under the 4th Republic of Ghana and former first lady Nana Konadu Agyeman) currently medical doctor and MP representing the Korle Klottey constituency. The conference was opened with the speech of Djifa Ahado, First Secretary of Development and Senior Programme Analyst for the Government of Canada - High Commission of Canada pledging that the Canadian Government is doing all it can to support girls. Interesting fact to know, is that it is Canada whom submitted a resolution to the United Nations for international recognition of Day of the Girl. The Fay International Ltd. marketing manager, Mary Achieng Ojuka, introduced menstrual hygiene management to the girls and distributed safe and healthy Faytex menstrual pads to the students of OPPS, St. Barnabas and Teshie Lekma.
The celebration of the Day of the Girl was such a success that it made it into the Ghanaian Times a few days later.
Philanthrophy Day:
By participating in the Day of the Girl event we came in touch with GrubforSmiles. Another great initiative for women in Ghana. Together we participated in the Girl Project. A 100 percent philantrophic event for market women who carry their babies on their back called Kayayei. Faytex conducted interactive workshops on menstrual health management with physical demonstrations including how to apply and dispose of a sanitary pad. Faytex encouraged women to share their experiences with a varied amount of unsafe sanitary pads widely available in the West African market. Having come through their individual ordeals, they were encouraged to be familiarised with Faytex products. The day was a big success with a turn out of 200+ people. The women left the event enlightened and got a glimpse of their favourite actress and Faytex ambassador Rabby Bray.
This is just a glimpse of the many ongoing projects. There is still so much more to do in order to make Ghana a better place for women. However, at Faytex is about making changes one step at a time. Touching the life of women through sanitary and maternity pads should become the motto.
If you are interested in helping women in Ghana - soon I will announce how you can help ! If you cant wait and have your own ideas mail me! francine.carron@gmail.com
Check : www.faytexsanitary.com
Planning events of the day for #Kayayei #thegirlproject @rabbybray @achieng5545 #accra #ghana #philantrophyday #donation #charity #sanitarypads #maternitypads
Currently at Tema Station ! We are here till 4 pm !!! Come and see us for educative demonstrations on #menstrualhygienemanagement and free #giveaways with special guest @rabbybray ! Where your health is our love ❤️ #madeinghana #accra #rabbybray #csr #charity #donations #ghanaian #ghana #ghanagirls #ghanamade #ghanalife #ghanagirl #womenrights #womenshealth #womencrush #menstruationcelebration #menstruationmagic #menstruationcycle #menstruationhygiene
Sometimes you just got to relax 🤙🏿Your health is wealth #stressawarenessday #ghana #ghanagirls #womenshealth #accra #blackgirlsrock #westafrica #menstruationisnormal
All smiles #faytexcaresforyou #menstrualhygienemanagement 🙏🏿 #accra #ghana
Want to learn more about our #faytex ambassador program ? #menstruation #accra #ghana Check out our website to learn how you can become a #faytex #ambassador in your school or #community ? #menstruationmatters #menstrualhygienemanagement
Friday fun in the factory ! Who doesn’t want to work with us ? #sanitarypads #menstruation #menstrualhygienemanagement #menses #faytexcaresforyou #Faytex #accra #ghana (bij Accra, Ghana)
Link in Bio ! www.faytexsanitary.com #menstruation #ghana #menstrualhygienemanagement #mhm #girlsmatter #empowerment #accra #kumasi #pads
We love the @beyonce #freedom song for #idg - Have you all seen it ? Check it out by clicking on the link in bio. We have posted it on our @faytexsanitary @youtube channel ❤️ #internationaldayofthegirl #menstrualhygienemanagement #powertogirls #accra #ghana #faytexcaresforyou
The #internationaldayofthegirl conference made it to the Ghanian Times ! Pick up your newspaper today ! Thanks 🙏🏽 @_power2girls @powertogirlsgh @crossroadsinternational @zanetorofficial Because #girlsmatter #weallbleed #faytexcaresforyou #menstrualhygienemanagement #accra #ghana #socialresponsibilty #empoweringgirls
International Day of a Girl Child
The past few times that I have written on my blog, I started with the words: …. Its been a while that I have posted but I am going to take it up again… and I failed. So this time around I am not going to begin like that. I dont even remember how I was sometimes able to post daily such long articles…With age I must have gotten slower (laughing to myself right now)
I actually waited to this date specifically to announce the new title of my blog that better reflects the work I do today. Today it is International Day of a Girl Child and the company I am currently consulting for empowers young girls. Hence the choice to publish a revamp specifically today!
Three years ago I started with the blog microfinancemasala. It covered my work as a microfinance branch manager and expert (volunteer) trips to North and East Africa relationg to microfinance, business development, labour unions and entrepreneurship. Two years in the position I left and began working independently as a financial inclusion consultant. However, financial inclusion related matters arent my only capabilities. I have plus 12 years of experience in business development for SME’s, corporation, NGO’s, INGO’s and labour unions. I consider myself a global manager with expertise in financial reporting, PR & (off)online communications, marketing, sales, staff development, governmental affairs, strategy development, community management and menstrual hygiene management.
I am a professional with a purpose.
In order to reflect my capacities better and the consultancy I provide I changed the name of my blog from microfinancemasala to The Inclusion Masala! This means financial inclusion, general management, corporate affairs, community management, business development and gender management. This summer I even worked as a on site general manager of Magritte Knokke Heist. A virtual reality art pop up on the beach in Belgium. My tasks covered everything from staff management, event management, adminstration, customer relations to financial reporting and so on. I will defenitely post some pictures about this later but what I have been dying to talk about is the current consultancy.
Like I said professional with a purpose !
I am currently being a (consultant) corporate affairs and community manager for Fay International ltd. They are the sole producers of safe and sanitary pads in Ghana, West Africa. I emphasize the words safe here as these pads do not contain any chlorine, dioxine, plastics, rayon, laytex or other chemicals. With these pads girls arent allowing dangerous chemicals to enter their bodies and develop cancers. Due to the organic cotton in the pads, they are very friendly for tropical weather. No more itching and scratching due to the heat and laytex touching your skin. I have tried them myself and they are so soft. (You would want to wear them all the time just to feel the softness.) These pads are produced under the brand name Faytex in Accra. The factory is mostly completely made up of women and was founded by a woman. The mission of the company is to provide safe and affordable healthcare to all the regions in Ghana. Safe as their are too many dangerous foreign substitute on the market and affordable as many of the Ghanian girls cant afford pads. Period.
Through their corporate social responsiblity program: Faytex finds it their duty to englighten young girls in menstrual hygiene management. There is a high level of absenteism in schools due to taboos around menstruation, improper explanations and just the fact they cant afford sanitary pads. Therefore, together with senior leadership I am developing strategies to exectute their social cause and make Faytex accessible across Ghana.
One program that we are currently rolling out is the Faytex Ambassador program. This program will allow young girls to enhance their own leadership skills by teaching their peers menstrual hygiene management.
As one knows from my microfinacemasala blog (articles remain available) on this blog, everytime I work on a new project I am completely devouted and passionate about it! No more posting everyday but defenitely every month. (and hopefully more)
Lets celebrate this new project with me and more importantly International Day of the Girl because nations that take care of their girls will prosper! Help me empower girls!
Today we stand (actually everyday) against sexual harassment, equal rights for girls, proper menstrual hygiene management, education and bringing girls on top!
I Quote: “If girls are empowered as much as boys in technology - we can make a lot of progress”!@unwomen
P.S: picture of myself (3rd child from the right with the white sweater & white scrunchy) in 2nd grade at the all girl school - Onze Lieve Vrouw Presentatie in Boom, Belgium. Now the town of Tommorowland ;)
Searching for other fun things to do in Ghana, I decided to go to Kakum National Park. I was told that there is a canopy walk that we can cross. After my experience in Rwanda attempting to cross the highest canopy in the world; I was courageous enough to be able to cross this one and this time around I have someone who watches my back all the time. No reason to fear! I thought….
After a long drive we arrive in Kakum National Park. It was nothing like the rainforest in East Africa but good enough to turn this into another fantastic experience. Upon entrance of the rainforest, we visit the museum and learn of Mount Afadjato. Mount Afadja is the highest mountain in Ghana, at an elevation of 885 metres (2,904 ft). The mountain is located in the Volta Region of Ghana at the border with Togo. I made a mental note to myself to research more about it and maybe organise during my next visit a hike up to that mountain. After hiking the Bisoke and Muhungwe in Rwanda, I have hiking fever.
It was time for us to enter the rainforest, it was raining a little bit and mosquitoes came from everywhere. The long sleeve jeans shirt and pants came in handy. We began the climb upwards and I realise I am not in good shape. How is that possible ? I have long time given up my sedentary life. Maybe it was the heat in the forest ? Not sure… The sweat was literally dripping off my body like a waterfall. There is a sign saying there is a rainforest suite at the highest bush point for rent. I quickly take the number as I would love to spend the night there.
We have finally arrived at the canopy bridge and it is nothing as the one in Rwanda. No steel but ropes only ! It is ladder or plank combination precariously hung as suspended rope-style bridges. It defenitely brings you into a jungle layer that is usually reserved for birds and monkeys. The canopy walk opened on Earth Day in 1995, and technically consists of seven separate bridges constructed with materials of the forest that hang from the trees over 130 feet above the ground, the walkway is about 1,000 feet and it does have a safety net. (So no worries.) According to the park guide it is regularly maintained; however by looking at the condition I am not so sure if that is true.
It was my turn to cross the bridge. As soon as I got on I felt I was in a scene of a Indiana Jones movie. The entire bridge was shaking, I was moving as a snail and it bothered other tourists. I was scared and thought the ropes were going to crack. But I made it across. Woohoo !!! Another canopy experience down my belt!
On the road away from Kakum, I stopped to buy fruits and many fruits I haven’t seen in West Africa so I had to taste them!
For lunch I went to a crocodile place called Hans Cottage. I got out of the car and saw a crocodile. I laughed and said HAHA, that is not a real one. It is a statue, look it has its mouth wide open that is not real. Little did I know that Crocodiles do not have sweat glands and release heat through their mouths. Therefore they often sleep with their mouths open and sometimes even pant like dogs. I ordered my lunch and the lady said: ‘Would you like to see the crocodiles ?’ Yes for sure I said. I thought to myself; I want to see the real ones not the fake ones yeah? Our guide slash waitress said you will buy some chicken and you can feed them. For sure no problem I have held a baby alligator in Miami before. You are talking to the crocodile mother here… I began walking and she points at the same crocodile that I pointed out earlier. Look he is sleeping …. Euh? So that is a real one. She goes and explains why they lay with their mouth open. I still thought it was a joke and really wanted to kick one to see if it was real. Thank god, I didn’t do that. Soon the crocodiles began crawling out of the pond and closing their eyes and moving. They smelled the chicken; it was feeding time. I threw the chicken and took pictures with a few sleeping crocodiles. Some are hidden in the grass and you almost trip over them. It was fun but not to do with little kids as there is no way that you can be kept safe. Definitely AT YOUR OWN RISK! Anyhow it definitely entertained my Dora the Explorer Spirit
After a long drive I arrive at Anomabo Beach. Yes for the first time I am saying it right! (I did have to google the name in phonetics though.) I kept on saying Animabi, Anumabo, Ambibo… ridicilous… So yes ANOMABO Beach it was. I decided to spend the night in the clay huts; watch the fishermen pull in their nets and dream away. Attached some beach pictures !
As in a few it is back to work - microfinance it is!
P.S.: If you ever take part in “Who wants to be a millionaire ?” and you are asked “Where is the international association of the honeybee ?” The answer is: KAKUM, Ghana. ;)
