Noma Pads and the spirit of art

A cheap, effective and empowering tool for young women

‘MAKERESEMESE LETUKA

MASERU – Disposable menstrual supplies are often too expensive for families or individuals to purchase, forcing many women to go for unsanitary alternatives such as old cloths while sometimes they go without a sanitary pad altogether – here at home multi-talented creative artist, Nthabiseng Monehela, has given local women a reusable sanitary pad.

Nthabiseng says she has made it her life mission to play a bigger role, and place her mark in making a difference in helping the world, and closer community, achieve, at least, a single of the set Sustainable Development Goals.

Although a professional interior decorator, the 29-year-old uses as a vehicle to attain her goals creative arts; while she is also an activist, researcher, a musician and a mother propelling her dream through her company Madhouse Rain (PTY) LTD. Madhouse Rain deals with sustainable and creative solutions through mediums such as art, crafts and music.

The entertainment company was officially established in August 2016 in Morija and represents many artistic and sustainable problems solving ethics within itself.

Among many others, they provide recycling and creative waste management services by means of re-purposing waste to make functional pieces of art and functional pieces of art and furniture.

Madhouse Rain curate art skills workshops, events and provide recording services at all stakeholders including universities, companies, radios, musicians and other organisations; they use sustainable materials and measures to create solutions in their personal lives and as a community at large.

Nthabiseng has also devoted her life to being the Morija Arts Centre’s assistant coordinator, a volunteer and events programmer.

She launched the Noma Pads project in August 2021, manufactures and provides sanitary pads to girls and organizations that also want to join in the eradication of period poverty in Lesotho and globally.

“Sustainable designs seek to reduce negative impacts on the environment, the health and comfort of building performance. The basic objectives of sustainability are to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, minimize waste, and create healthy productive environments.

Our art is in harmony with the key principles of sustainability, which include ecology, social justice, non violence and grassroots democracy,” says Nthabiseng.

Their brands Noma Pads and Spirit of Arts: Noma Pads are reusable pads that are aimed to last for at least two to three years. These pads are made of non reactive materials such as cotton, nylon and fleece for best comfort and security.

While Spirit of Art: Noma Pads is an organic accessory brand where they design and create accessories using natural vernacular materials. They recycle and re-purpose waste fabrics and collect off cuts from seamstresses around the CBD area to create meaningful work that both adhering to the needs of the users and environment at large.

“I would one day want to see our country being able to provide free sanitary towels to all girls, as a way to eradicate period poverty.”