Ethiopia's Freweini Mebrahtu wins CNN's 2019 Heroes award

ADDIS ABABA - Freweini Mebrahtu, an Ethiopian chemical engineer, beat nine others on Sunday night to win CNN's Heroes award in America.

CNN rewards outstanding personalities across the world for outstanding services to humanity every year. Winners are usually voted for.

Mebrahtu, who studied in the US, could not hide her joy when the organizers revealed the winner, amid applause from the audience.

"Thank you so much, I don't even know what to say," a tearful Mebrahtu said. "I am so humbled and grateful for CNN for doing this recognition for me."

In addition to the $10,000 dollars they have already won, organizers said, each top ten heroes will receive free training. They will also get leadership training for development and long-term success.

Notably, Mebrahtu has been passionate about girl child in her native Ethiopia, engaging in activities meant to reduce school dropout rates among girls due to menstruation.

Menstruation is considered taboo in Ethiopia, and girls often miss school or drop out because of their periods. The chemical engineer looked for a solution.

In her victory speech, Mebrahtu said: "This is for all the girls and women everywhere and dignity for all. This moment is not for me, this moment is for every girl."

Mebrahtu designed and patented a reusable menstrual pad in 2005, a solution that has greatly transformed the lives of girls from rural Ethiopia.

She and her team produce 750,000 reusable pads a year at her factory in Ethiopia. Nearly 800,000 girls and women have benefited from her work.

Mebrahtu has teamed up with the nonprofit, Dignity Period, to end the stigma around the issue by speaking at schools and teaching girls and boys that menstruation is natural, not shameful.

To empower her work, CNN said: "The hero with most votes will receive an additional $100,000 to continue with life-changing work."

Her victory comes just two days before Ethiopian reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed receives the Nobel Peace Prize award in Norway.

Ahmed who seized power in 2018, has been credited for engineering social-economic and geopolitical reforms in Ethiopia, a country that struggled with autocratic for decades.

Dignity Period has distributed more than 150,000 free menstrual hygiene kits purchased from Mebrahtu's factory.

Data gathered by the group shows that schools visited by Dignity Period had a 24% increase in attendance among girls, a significant record in as many years.

Many African countries struggle to promote girl-child education due to periods. Besides high drop out due to the biological situation, some contemplate committing suicide.

This year, a school girl committed suicide in Bomet County, Kenya for allegedly being mocked by her own teacher over the periods.

GAROWE ONLINE