Tag Volunteer | Sustainable Health Enterprises

Why I Volunteer for SHE: Meet Sam Schulman

in Blog by connie lewin June 7, 2016

Sam offered her brand and design skills with her Interbrand colleagues for a day of service.

How did you find out about SHE?

SHE and Interbrand partnered for Interbrand’s Month of Service in July 2014. SHE was selected out of many non-profit submissions to participate in a one-day intensive workshop to tackle key brand challenges.

What project did you work on with SHE? Whom did you work with? How did you use your skills and talents to help advance SHE’s mission?

We worked with Elizabeth Scharpf (founder and CEO), Connie Lewin (Strategic Partnerships and Marketing Director) and SHE’s Marketing Intern. Originally, the focus was on understanding how to implement visual assets as a result of a recent rebrand. What evolved was a deeper focus on differentiating SHE’s primary campaign, SHE28, from the SHE global brand to ensure SHE could be better leveraged as a platform to communicate the broader objectives of the organization, and support future growth. In just 8 hours, we completed an extraordinary amount together – we developed a messaging platform to express the brand personality; made adjustments to both the SHE and SHE28 logos, introducing greater clarity and flexibility in the visual system; and finally, a brand playbook that included visual, verbal and strategic guidance for implementing the brand effectively.

What are some highlights of your volunteer work with SHE?

Our day with SHE remains one of my career highlights. Not only is the SHE team incredibly passionate about what they do, but they have created a really interesting and sustainable business model unlike many in the space. The team was engaged and decisive which allowed us to iterate together to get to successful solutions.

Sam and her Interbrand colleagues worked with SHE to produce a brand guide, a refreshed SHE logo, and actionable content all in one day!

What should people know about SHE?

Working with SHE opened my eyes to a topic I had previously known very little about. The work SHE is doing is unique and powerful and I can’t wait to see what SHE tackles next as it continues to grow and make lasting change at a global scale!

Why I Volunteer for SHE: Meet Michael Moscherosch

in Blog by connie lewin April 24, 2016

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My background is in chemistry and I’ve been with J&J for 22 years. I worked for many years in in product development for feminine hygiene products. Now my focus is more on external innovation, sustainability and social innovation.

How did you find out about SHE?

We heard about SHE’s approach to make affordable napkins from banana fibers and we reached out to Elizabeth Scharpf and offered our help.

What project have you been working on with SHE? How are you using your skills and talents to help advance SHE’s mission?

We began by improving the current process so that the products met the Rwandan Standards Board requirements. I then made a trip to Rwanda in September 2015, which helped us develop a new processes and equipment to increase production at the manufacturing site in Ngoma. I also participated in consumer research to refine the go! pad and its packaging to meet environmental standards. I also helped improve banana fiber quality.

What are some highlights of your volunteer work with SHE?

Having Dany visit us in NJ, visiting the manufacturing site in Ngoma, and visiting a banana cooperative and see how the fibers are produced.

What should people know about SHE?

One of SHE’s goals is to profitably manufacture menstrual pads in developing countries. The goal is to create a financially sustainable business model that is scalable and can be implemented in other banana growing regions in the developing world where women and girls have no access to safe and affordable sanitary napkins.

Why I Volunteer for SHE: Meet Aimee Sealfon

in Blog by connie lewin April 14, 2016April 24, 2016

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a graphic designer by training, and work within Johnson & Johnson’s Global Strategic Design Office as consumer solutions director on their baby and feminine care franchises. I have been a designer with the GSDO for almost ten years, but before that worked as a packaging designer for CPG (consumer packaged goods) at Martha Stewart, as well as some smaller design firms throughout my career.

How did you find out about SHE?

I first heard about SHE when Elizabeth Scharpf was featured on NPR about six years ago. The story resonated with me because I have a passionate interest in maternal and children’s health especially where it intersects with FemCare and EMs.

What project did you work on with SHE? Whom did you work with? How did you use your skills and talents to help advance SHE’s mission?

J&J’s GSDO is partnering with SHE to develop more sustainable (eliminating packaging where possible, taking into account the disposal and reusability of the secondary packaging), cost effective and delightful packaging that better meets the needs of the girls + women who are using the go! pads. The new packaging also includes the inclusion of reproductive health and MHM educational materials for the girls. I worked primarily with Flora and Jeanette to develop new packaging that we could test with the girls at different schools, as well to develop the educational content. However, I also worked with the entire core team during different points within the design thinking process.

What are some highlights of your volunteer work with SHE?

Working with the girls: co-creating better packaging and product ideas together with them; seeing the banana cooperatives and understanding more about the manufacturing process of the go! Pads.

What should people know about SHE?

I really love the idea that women are helping women and the embracement and support of Rwandan pride throughout the entire process. SHE specifically chose banana coops that have women farmers and workers (not all do), the manufacturing plant employs almost primarily women; and at the core, it is really incredible that Rwandan women are helping young Rwandan girls to feel more empowered and confident; and to stay in school by having sanitary pads for when they have their period; the pads which are made with Rwandan banana fiber.

Why I Give to SHE: Meet Molly Johnson

in Blog by connie lewin July 21, 2015July 21, 2015

How did you first get involved with SHE?

I heard about SHE through the School of Visual Arts, where I was tasked with a logo design assignment for them.

What is unique about SHE?

SHE is unique because it is a sustainable, long-term solution. The go! pads help communities in reciprocal ways by empowering women and creating jobs.

What impact have you seen from your donation and volunteer work?

I have seen my designs featured on the website and social media including the 2014 holiday campaign.

An example of Molly’s work for SHE’s 2014 Holiday Campaign.

What makes you excited about SHE’s future direction?

I am excited to see SHE really thrive in Rwanda, so that similar initiatives are carried out in other communities around the world.

What would you say to someone thinking about becoming a donor or volunteer to SHE? I would say that women can miss up to 50 days of work/school a year if they don’t have sanitary products.

To discover more of Molly’s talents, check out her portfolio at mollymasonjohnson.com

If you want to use your talents for purpose to help further our mission, email us at supportshe@sheinnovates.com.