From One Conversation to Lasting Impact - The PridePads Africa Story
As PridePads Africa continues to grow, we thought it would be meaningful to revisit how it all began and the people who have remained committed to this mission from the very beginning.
Many of you are part of the PridePads Africa community because of a personal connection to one of our founders. You have followed our journey, celebrated our successes, and supported our work through the many challenges that come with building and sustaining a nonprofit organization across continents. As we look ahead to the next chapter, we wanted to share a reminder of who we are, where we started, and why this work remains so important.
The seed for PridePads Africa was planted when Professor Ajume Wingo, a Prince from the Kingdom of Nso in Cameroon, witnessed a young girl being publicly shamed after she began menstruating for the first time. The experience left a lasting impression on him and inspired a vision to ensure that girls would have access to menstrual health education and products so that menstruation would never be a source of humiliation or lost opportunity.
In 2017, Ajume shared this vision with Stephanie Carter and her daughter, Celeste Carter, who was just 17 years old at the time. Inspired by the possibility of creating meaningful change, they joined forces with their close friend Dr. Mary Shackelton. Together, the four founders began exploring how they could address the barriers girls faced in accessing menstrual products and staying in school.
What started as conversations and research quickly became a shared commitment.
In 2019, PridePads Africa was officially established as a U.S. 501(c)(3) with a partner NGO in Cameroon. Soon after, a biodegradable pad-making machine was installed in Ngaoundéré, creating access to menstrual products while also creating jobs for local women.
Today, nearly nine years after those first conversations, PridePads Africa is thriving.
We are incredibly proud that PridePads Africa has not only survived, but has grown stronger with each passing year. After all, one of the greatest challenges nonprofit organizations face is maintaining momentum, accountability, and purpose over time. Many organizations begin with passion but struggle to sustain their mission year after year.
A large part of our success belongs to our remarkable team in Ngaoundéré. PridePads Africa now employs eight full-time staff members who manage pad production, packaging, distribution, and inventory, school outreach, and menstrual health education. Their work touches thousands of lives every year. Just as importantly, these jobs provide stable employment and opportunity for the individuals and families who make this program possible.
Our education program continues to expand, reaching more schools and more girls every year. With each new partnership, more girls are able to stay in school, participate fully in their education, and pursue their goals with confidence.
Running an NGO in another country is never easy. Many worthy projects begin with enthusiasm but struggle to maintain long-term impact. What has sustained PridePads Africa is our commitment to staying connected to the people we serve and to the team carrying out the work every day. We have learned that lasting change comes from relationships, trust, and showing up year after year.
In 2027, members of our leadership team will return to Cameroon to visit the facility, spend time with our staff, and reconnect with the communities we serve. These trips remind us why we started. Meeting the women who produce the pads and visiting the schools where they are distributed brings the mission into sharp focus. When you look into the eyes of a young girl whose future has been changed by something as simple as access to menstrual products, it becomes impossible to imagine not doing this work.
Our founders remain deeply involved. Dr. Ajume Wingo continues to provide leadership and guidance in Cameroon. Celeste Carter, who helped launch the organization as a teenager, remains actively engaged and plays an important role in its future. Stephanie Carter serves as Treasurer of the Board, overseeing the financial stewardship of the organization, and Dr. Mary Shackelton serves as Vice President, helping guide the organization's growth and long-term vision.
Together with our board members, volunteers, staff, and partners in Cameroon, we continue to work toward a future where girls do not miss school because they lack access to basic menstrual products, and where women have greater opportunities for economic independence.
The reality is that something many of us rarely think about, a menstrual pad, can change the course of a girl's life. What feels ordinary to many of us can mean dignity, confidence, education, and opportunity for someone else.
As we reflect on how far we have come, we are filled with gratitude. PridePads Africa exists because of the commitment of its founders, the dedication of our team in Cameroon, and the generosity of supporters like you who believed in this vision from the beginning.
Nine years later, our commitment remains as strong as ever. Together, we are helping girls stay in school, creating jobs for women, and building a brighter future for communities across Cameroon.
Thank you for being part of this journey.