Zoe Koulouris Share the Dignity and Cottons Interview

Zoe Koulouris Share the Dignity and Cottons Interview

This month thousands of women in need will benefit from a partnership between Brisbane-based charity Share the Dignity and Cottons, Australia's first 100% natural feminine hygiene brand.

Share the Dignity works year around to help provide homeless or at risk women in communities across Australia with the sanitary essentials that they simply cannot afford.

In August and April these efforts kick up a notch, with #dignitydrive encouraging Australian women to donate sanitary items for homeless women and those fleeing domestic violence. Rochelle Courtnay, founder of Share the Dignity, said that April is a particularly important month for the charity.

'Share the Dignity is proud of the work we do every day to help Australian women maintain their sense of pride in tough situations," said Rochelle.

'Cottons' mutual passion to help women in need has been pivotal in Share the Dignity's story."

Since beginning work with Share the Dignity in August 2015, Cottons has helped to provide more than 300,000 pads and tampons to in need women across Australia.

Cottons Communications Coordinator Zoe Koulouris said that Cottons was privileged to be in a position to help thousands of women in need each April and August.

'We were shocked to learn that in Australia many homeless women and women in domestic violence shelters had to face unthinkable indignities during their monthly period, like having to use newspapers or paper-towels as makeshift pads when their periods come," said Zoe.

'We think this is unacceptable. All women have a right to access sanitary products, it's not a privilege. This is why we have continued to support Share the Dignity to help those women who need it the most."

For every two packs purchased through the Cottons online shop in April and August, the brand will donate a pack of pads or tampons to Share the Dignity. Members of the public can also donate at all Terry White Chemists/Chemmarts, as well as some Chemist Warehouse, Fitness First and Coles stores.

The Cottons range includes 100% cotton tampons, as well as cotton lined pads, liners, as well as a maternity range and starter pack providing a comfortable choice for women at any stage of their lives.

Interview with Zoe Koulouris

Question: What is Share the Dignity's #dignitydrive?

Zoe Koulouris: In the months of April and August, Share the Dignity runs #dignitydrive, an initiative where Australian women are encouraged to donate packs of tampons and pads at collection points around the country including all Terry White Chemists/Chemmarts, as well as some Chemist Warehouse, Fitness First and Coles stores. These packs of necessities are then distributed to women in need throughout the year.

Question: How is Cottons supporting this fantastic initiative?

Zoe Koulouris: Cottons supports Share the Dignity year-round, donating tampons and pads whenever the charity is running low. In April and August, Cottons supports #dignitydrive by donating a pack of pads of tampons for every two packs purchased through the Cottons online shop.


Question: Why did Cottons decided to partnership with Share the Dignity?

Zoe Koulouris: We were shocked to learn that in Australia many homeless women and women in domestic violence shelters had to face unthinkable indignities during their monthly period, like having to use newspapers or paper-towels as makeshift pads when their periods come. We think this is unacceptable. All women have a right to access sanitary products, it's not a privilege. This is why we have continued to support Share the Dignity to help those women who need it the most.


Question: How many packs have been donated, so far?

Zoe Koulouris: Since beginning work with Share the Dignity in August 2015, Cottons has helped to provide more than 300,000 pads and tampons to in need women across Australia.


Question: And, what is the goal?

Zoe Koulouris: The goal is the ensure that we can help provide as many Australian women in need with their feminine hygiene needs. When they don't need to worry about things like this, they can really focus on themselves, their families and getting back on their feet.

Question: How are the pads and tampons distributed to women in need?

Zoe Koulouris: Once the products have been donated either through Cottons or through the various donations points across Australia, Share the Dignity collect those donations and distribute them to various domestic violence refuges, homeless shelters, some lower socio-economic schools and other centres that focus on helping women in need.


Question: How can Australians continue to support this initiative?

Zoe Koulouris: You can support the initiative in so many ways throughout the year. Throughout April and August you can grab an extra pack of Cottons pads or tampons during your next trip to the supermarket and drop it off at one of the thousands of locations across Australia. Alternatively, you can head to cottons.com.au/donation and donate from the comfort of your home. In November #itsinthebag is an initiative that encourages people across the country to fill handbags with essential items a woman fleeing a domestic violence situation might need. Items could include things like pads and tampons, shampoo, soap, and deodorant. To find out other ways of being a part of the great work Share The Dignity do, head to sharethedignity.com.au


Interview by Brooke Hunter