Recipe for Innovation

While visiting the Rocky Mountains on a break from school, a friend invited me to join her at a neighborhood potlatch dinner. I was excited to meet some new friends and decided I would make a good impression by baking a pie I’d recently perfected in my home kitchen in Ohio. I brought my berry pie to the party and proudly set it out with the other dishes. It looked slightly different from previous times I’d baked it but I reminded myself of my past success with this recipe which I’d carefully repeated in my friend’s kitchen. 

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long to realize something was very wrong. People seemed to be politely pushing the pie around their plates before quietly abandoning their slices by the kitchen sink. Later I learned that baking in the high altitude of the mountains is a completely different science from baking at sea level. Oven temperature, bake time, and the amount of ingredients must be adjusted to compensate for lower air pressure. The recipe that had been amazing in one place was a disaster in another. 

This experience came back to me during a trip to Kenya as one of the Kenyan teachers led me around her school and shared stories of her students using menstrual pads designed by Western product developers. She shared how they did not work well for a variety of reasons such as washing methods and drying times. In the US context, where washing machines and dryers are common in most homes, these products would have worked well. It was obvious that an adjusted “recipe” for the menstrual products was needed to suit the regional climate and living conditions. 

Over the past 3 years, Kenyan teachers, students, and seamstresses have collaborated with Wunders to develop a kit of products that make the most sense in the local context. The kits are faster drying, need less water to clean and have an adjustable fit. They make sense for local laundering and meet the economic and environmental need to make things work comfortably for years instead of disposing after a single use. 

As Wunders grows and gains momentum, we continue to collect student and teacher feedback. We are working hard to prioritize listening and learning. It is always encouraging to hear comments as we did in the April feedback session, “When can you come back with kits for our neighbors and sisters?" 

Meridian Lee works with Wunders Partners to develop the best washable, fast drying pads and other products which help girls stay in school. We're excited for our patent pending status. Learn more and donate a kit! https://www.wunderspartners.com/