'Party with a Purpose' event at IUSB ahead of International Women's Day

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- IU South Bend (IUSB) held a "Party with a Purpose" event to celebrate ahead of International Women's Day on Saturday, March 7.

Thursday's event marked the fifth annual celebration and brought together community members, IUSB students, faculty, and staff for a one-day service project.

Around 100 participants gathered and worked together to make reusable menstrual pads for young girls in Malawi, Africa to address the lack of access to menstrual products which oftentimes leads to young girls missing school.

Thousands of pads were made at the event and shipped to Malawi through a partner organization called Malawi Matters.

"It's extremely impactful." Said Director of the IUSB Honors Program and coordinator of "Party with a Purpose", Neovi Karakatsanis. "...we distribute 1000s of pads to Malawi Africa, and we also engage in educational programming Malawi matters. We distribute 1000s of pads to Malawi Africa, and we also engage in educational programming Malawi matters."