Supreme seeks to educate and empower
In addition to the improving the accessibility of sanitary pads, Supreme is a locally registered charity that undertakes various projects to improve the accessibility of information regarding menstrual health, rights and gender equality more broadly as well as help Malawian women develop critical life skills.
Our work with schools
The life of a Malawian schoolgirl is unimaginably challenging. Educational outcomes for women in Malawi are among the worst in the world; the 2022 Global Gender Gap Report from the World Economic Forum ranks Malawi at 139 out of 146 countries for Educational Attainment. High levels of absenteeism in Secondary school are a large component of these subpar outcomes and shame and confusion surrounding menstruation is often cited by schoolgirls as a reason for this. Additionally, dropout rates are incredibly high in a large part due to child marriage—which is inherently linked to societal perspectives on menstruation and its association with ‘maturity’ and ‘adulthood’, as well as overall attitudes regarding women’s roles.
Therefore, much of our charitable work centres around schools. The misinformation and embarrassment that traditionally characterises conversations about menstruation and the persistence of regressive attitudes towards women in rural Malawi is fundamentally linked with education. We believe strongly in helping students—male and female alike—engage with sensitive topics surrounding biology, menstrual rights and the role of women in society.
Part of our programme with local schools involves an annual art competition that is run in the lead up to International Menstrual Hygiene Day on the 28th of May, in which our team delivers 3 hour sessions to learners in Standard 7 (who are generally around 13 years old) that are designed to demystify and destigmatise menstruation for students and help them express their visions for a world in which women are treated equally through art.
Vocational and skills training
The aforementioned 2022 WEF Global Gender Gap Report also ranks Malawi at 132 out of 146 countries profiled in its overall Gender Gap Index, placing it in the bottom quartile amongst Sub-Saharan African countries. Even more troubling is the fact that Malawi appears to be backsliding in this regard, with its score seeing the largest decrease from the WEF’s 2021 rankings of any country in the world.
The participation of women in the Malawian economy is severely lacking and women who are employed earn just 64 cents to every dollar earned by Malawian men according to the World Bank. Supreme believes it is vitally important to the women of Malawi and the development of the country as a whole that women are supported in acquiring the requisite skills to participate fully in their society.
In conjunction with TeamGIRL Malawi, Supreme administers programmes in Dedza and Mchinji in which women (primarily—but men are welcomed too) are taught employable skills such as tailoring and barbery.
Supreme also runs an internship programme that connects students to local businesses, supporting their development and preparing them for the working world.