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 ;)
