Reflections on the Social Residential Programme

Written by Kehinde Abereoje

The Social Ventures Residential was all about using business smarts to solve real-world problems. I love that it was hands-on and interactive, which made learning not just informative but also a lot of fun. Imagine being in a space where everyone is buzzing with ideas about how to make the world a better place through business. That's exactly what it was like.

What really hit home for me was seeing how we could take social issues, things we usually see as problems, and flip them into opportunities—not just for making money, but for making a difference. It was an eye-opener. The mentors were great at guiding us through this process, pushing us to think outside the box and come up with ideas that could actually work in the real world; taking the passion I felt many of the participants exuded and encouraging us to think about the practicalities of implementation.

One of the big moments for me was coming up with an idea to sell handmade, reusable pads. It struck me how such a simple product could tackle two huge issues: period poverty and unemployment among women in underserved communities. The idea is straightforward—create a business that makes affordable, reusable menstrual pads while also giving jobs to women who really need them. This way, we are not just providing a necessary product but also empowering these women by giving them work. It's about creating a sustainable cycle of empowerment and health, all through a simple, yet innovative business model.

The vision behind this is to tackle two social challenges with a single initiative; help women gain financial independence and address the lack of access to menstrual products, which is a big barrier to education and health for many. Period poverty is a pressing concern because, apart from health complications, it can lead to school absenteeism and accelerated drop-out rates (for example, in Nigeria, 3 In 10 girls drop out of school due to period related concerns). This significantly impacts the future opportunities for these young women and has monumental knock-on effects.

The Social Ventures Residential was a game-changer for me. It didn't just teach me about entrepreneurship; it showed me how entrepreneurship can be a powerful tool for social change. It's given me a clear path forward on how I can use my business skills for good, starting with this project to fight period poverty and empower women. It's more than just a business idea now; it's a mission.

Kehinde Abereoje

Kehinde Abereoje is a recipient of the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship pursuing an MPhil in Population Health Sciences at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. She is a passionate advocate for promoting sexual health education and empowerment for young girls and women and is the founder of Purple Pact Initiative, based in Nigeria. Kehinde's goal is to create an inclusive world for women, and she is committed to making a positive impact through her work. She has been a member of the E-Lab community since January 2024.