The Enmena Engey Bodu Sirru project stands as a significant symbol of collaborative innovation. Through its mission to enhance women’s comprehensive understanding of their reproductive health, while simultaneously championing eco-friendly menstrual health practices, it embodies a collaborative spirit between three distinguished entities, UNFPA Maldives, Soneva Namoona and Zero Waste Maldives, bridging together the expertise of health, sustainability and community engagement.
This collaboration stemmed from a shared recognition of the societal taboos surrounding menstruation in the Maldives. Recognizing this, UNFPA and Zero Waste Maldives initially launched the “Cupvert” project in 2019, aiming to bridge the gaps in menstrual health management within school hygiene programs. As the project took shape, Soneva Namoona joined the collaboration in 2022. Their collective goal is multifold: to shatter these societal barriers, to carve out safe spaces for Maldivian women to discuss and learn, and to illuminate the intrinsic link between human health and the well-being of our planet.
© Soneva Namoona
The heart of this project lies in its collaborative spirit. Each partner brings an invaluable arsenal of expertise, passion and vision to the table. With the average woman using an estimated 11,000 menstrual products in her lifetime, and each sanitary pad or tampon taking 500 years to decompose, there’s a shared urgency to harmonize women's empowerment with environmental sustainability. This partnership hopes for a future where Maldivian girls and women can make informed choices about their reproductive health and simultaneously cultivate a balanced relationship with nature.
The direct community engagement facilitated by this partnership, will also allow for profound connections, where experiences are shared, knowledge is exchanged, and communities are empowered. One particularly impactful instance that underscores this commitment was Zero Waste Maldives’ inclusive session with the hearing-impaired community amidst the pandemic - the enthusiasm and active participation displayed during this session for sustainable menstrual products served as a powerful affirmation of the transformative possibilities this collaboration holds.
But even beyond broadening outreach and breaking barriers, there’s an excitement in what Soneva Namoona describes as the creation of a vital ‘safe space’ for women. It champions a world where societal silos are dismantled, and where the integral connection between human well-being and planetary health is celebrated. This collaboration doesn't just amplify reach, but enriches the approach with diverse perspectives, fostering a holistic approach to societal transformation.
© Soneva Namoona
The Enmena Engey Bodu Sirru project is a testament to what collective vision and collaboration can achieve. It’s setting the groundwork for a fundamental shift in how Maldivians relate to both their health and the environment. With the collective strength of UNFPA Maldives, Soneva Namoona and Zero Waste Maldives, this initiative envisions a profound and sustainable impact, reaching wider communities to amplify their collective message, ensuring that stakeholders at all levels - from grassroots to policymakers - are well informed and involved.
About the Partners
UNFPA Maldives
UNFPA is the leading United Nations agency for sexual and reproductive health, ensuring rights and choices, partnering with a wide range of organizations to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every child birth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA has been continuing to support national efforts in the realization of universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights - particularly for women and girls, persons with disabilities, and those living in the islands and outside of the Greater Male’.
© Shaari / UNFPA Maldives
Soneva Namoona
Renowned for their efforts in the creation of empowered zero-waste communities, Soneva Namoona’s initiatives are rooted deeply in community development and environmental preservation through co-creating, piloting and spreading innovations in the areas of of encouraging alternatives to single-use-plastics (Reduce), sustainable waste management (Recycle), and environmental stewardship (Inspire).
Working across 22 islands in the atolls of Baa, Noonu and Haa Dhaalu, where Soneva resorts are prominently located, the organization has notably prevented over 700,000 plastic bottles from oceans and landfills, supported substantial waste recycling, and trained 26 swimming instructors to improve the water capabilities of over 750 young individuals.
© Soneva Namoona
Zero Waste Maldives
Since its inception in 2018, Zero Waste Maldives has championed the radical concept of reconceptualizing waste through three focus areas; waste reduction, climate change, and circular economy. Their journey is characterized by the promotion of waste as a valued resource - a change in perspective that emphasizes turning ‘waste into wealth’.
With initiatives that span from offering sustainable alternatives to single-use-plastics, community education, and innovative waste management practices, the organization has also worked with various businesses, local island communities and government entities to facilitate the drafting of policies that embrace a zero waste approach.
© Zero Waste Maldives
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