Lucy Odiwa, the owner of a Tanga-based micro-enterprise, WomenChoice Industries, was over the moon last year when she received an email informing her that her enterprise had won the global

SDGs and Her Competition.

Over 1,200 entries from 88 countries had been submitted and hers won first place.

Co-sponsored by the World Bank Group, the Wharton School Zicklin Center, UNDP, and UN Women, the contest recognises women micro-entrepreneurs helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

WomenChoice Industries is geared towards empowering girls and women in rural Tanzania by promoting menstrual health hygiene management.

“WomenChoice Industries is a pro-women social enterprise which aims at reducing social physiological distress in women. We make re-usable sanitary towels to promote menstrual health hygiene management,” says the mother of two.

The fact that menstruation is surrounded by taboo, viewed as shameful and less talked about, is what prompted Lucy to do something to help girls and women. Her first menstrual experience is not something she would wish anyone to go through.