ActionCOACH helps overcome period poverty

ActionCOACH has helped a female entrepreneur who is trying to overcome period poverty in South Africa.

An inspiring businesswoman from Hillcrest, South Africa is being supported in her quest to help young women have dignity during menstruation by her local ActionCOACH franchisee.

Sue Barnes was inspired to set up the not-for-profit organisation Project Dignity in 2010 when her daughter’s school requested donations of sanitary pads. She discovered that many young women were missing school because they couldn’t afford sanitary products, with some seeing their attendance suffer by a massive 25 percent every year and vowed to do something about it.

Sue put her fashion design degree to good use and came up with a sustainable product that could be washed and re-used for up to five years. Her Subz Pants and Pads were then distributed across South Africa, with more than 140,000 packs being handed out to date, along with an educational pack about female health.

To help her take her business to the next level, Sue enlisted the help of Deborah Coskey from business coaching franchise ActionCOACH. Coskey expressed her delight at being able to help Sue grow her business.

“It is a real privilege to be working with Sue and watching her grow her business, put in systems and hire new staff. Her product is incredible and really is changing lives.”

Sue shared some sage advice that all women should take on board.

“Knowing that we are changing the lives of young women daily and giving them an opportunity to empower themselves for a better life is hugely rewarding. My advice for women this women’s month is to keep your eye on the prize and to stay true to yourself. Don’t try to be someone else, we all have our own strengths and individual gifts – use your gift to live your best life.”

ActionCOACH is a multi-award-winning franchise that has been recognised six years in a row for the quality of its business model by Smith & Henderson.