Huru International
Huru International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 that manufactures and distributes reusable sanitary pad kits and menstrual health education to school-age girls and young women across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, funded through donations, corporate partnerships, and institutional grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Huru International does
Huru International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 and headquartered in New York, with its Global Headquarters and production facility located in the Dul Dul area near Mukuru informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. The organization manufactures and distributes the Huru Kit, a reusable menstrual health package containing six engineered three-layer reusable sanitary pads (moisture-wicking top layer, high-absorbency microfiber middle layer, waterproof bottom layer, KEBS-certified for 2+ years of use), three pairs of underwear, soap, a waterproof storage bag, and educational materials. Each kit is provided free of charge to recipients; Huru does not sell products commercially and instead distributes them through school-based events, community centers, refugee camps (notably Dadaab), and workplace programs in partnership with local administrators and health workers.
Huru's primary beneficiaries are school-age girls aged 10-18 in urban informal settlements and rural communities across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, with secondary programs serving unemployed young women (the Skills Development Program, launched 2018, providing 4-month vocational training in garment production with NITA certification) and women workers in Kenya's garment and horticultural industries (via the 2024 USAID partnership covering 43 workplaces). The organization complements its physical distribution with the Free2 mobile application, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver gamified menstrual health education and local resources digitally. The Skills Development Program additionally creates a closed-loop workforce: graduates manufacture the very pads distributed in Huru Kits.
Huru's business model is donation-driven rather than commercial. Revenue streams include individual donations (including The Cycle monthly giving program at $35 per kit), corporate partnerships (ThisIsL/P&G, Johnson & Johnson, Warner Bros. Discovery, Micato Safaris), institutional grants (USAID, PEPFAR, Elton John AIDS Foundation, UNICEF Kenya, Clinton Foundation, Amplify Change, Grand Challenges Canada, MPesa Foundation, Safaricom Foundation, Finnish Church Aid), and bilateral partnerships. The organization has earned a Charity Navigator 4-star rating and Candid (GuideStar) Platinum Seal of Transparency, and has received significant earned media coverage including New York Times Opinion pieces and CNN's 'As Equals' series.
Huru International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Huru International
- Legal name
- Huru International LLC
- Website
- https://huruinternational.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Huru International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 that manufactures and distributes reusable sanitary pad kits and menstrual health education to school-age girls and young women across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, funded through donations, corporate partnerships, and institutional grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Huru International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Menstrual Health Nonprofit
- NAICS
- Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159)
- SIC
- Women's, Misses', Children's & Infants' Undergarments (2340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Menstrual Pads (Reusable/Cloth) (CRABAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Feminine Hygiene Products (Pads, Tampons, Liners) (CRADALAG)
Keywords
Where Huru International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Huru International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, monthly giving program (The Cycle), and corporate sponsorships. Every $35 donation provides one Huru Kit to a girl. 100% of donations are tax-deductible and go directly to programs.
- Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Strategic partnerships with companies like ThisIsL (L.), Johnson & Johnson, P&G, and others who provide funding, in-kind support (industrial sewing machines), and marketing collaborations to support program delivery.
- Government and Institutional Grants: Funding from USAID, PEPFAR, Elton John AIDS Foundation, and other institutional donors to support specific program implementations such as workplace menstrual health initiatives.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | $35 per Huru Kit |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Huru International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Huru International manufactures and distributes Huru Kits, which include engineered KEBS-certified reusable sanitary pads, underwear, soap, a waterproof storage bag, and educational materials, to school-age girls in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The organization complements physical product distribution with comprehensive menstrual health and reproductive wellness education delivered through school distributions, community outreach, and the Free2 mobile app. It also operates a Skills Development Program that provides vocational training, financial literacy, and microloan access to young women, addressing period poverty and economic empowerment together.
Product overview
Huru International offers a portfolio of menstrual health products and services centered around the Huru Kit, which includes the Huru Pad reusable sanitary pad along with underwear, soap, and educational materials. The organization complements its physical products with the Free2 digital app for menstrual health education. Additionally, the Skills Development Program provides vocational training in garment production with expanded post-graduation support including microloans and mentorship. All products and programs work together to keep girls in school and empower young women with skills for economic independence.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Huru Kit: A comprehensive menstrual health kit containing reusable sanitary pads, underwear, soap, waterproof storage bag, and educational materials designed to last up to two years.
- Huru Pad
- Free2 App
- Skills Development Program (SDP)
- Huru Global
- The Cycle
- Huru x This Is L.
Products and services
- Huru Kit A comprehensive menstrual health kit containing KEBS-certified reusable sanitary pads, underwear, soap, a waterproof storage bag, and educational materials on menstrual health and reproductive wellness. Designed to last up to two years and distributed free of charge to school-age girls in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda through school- and community-based distributions.
- Huru Pad Reusable sanitary pad engineered with a moisture-wicking top layer, high-absorbency microfiber middle layer, and waterproof bottom layer. Certified by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and designed to last 24+ months. Manufactured locally at the Nairobi Global Headquarters and distributed as part of the Huru Kit.
- Free2 App Mobile application providing menstrual health education through gamified lessons on menstrual health and wellness, local resources for support available 24/7. Designed to extend educational reach to girls when in-person distributions are not feasible.
- Skills Development Program Four-month vocational training program (formerly Skills Transfer Program) teaching young women tailoring and garment production skills, combined with business education, financial literacy, and life skills. Graduates receive NITA certification and can access microloans through the Caritas Microfinance Bank partnership for entrepreneurship and post-graduation employment support.
Quantifiable outcome
- Girls who receive Huru Kits are 3x less likely to miss school during their periods
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Huru International
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Huru International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Huru International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and supporting.
- Caritas Microfinance BankstrategicPartnership to enhance Skills Development Program with financial literacy training, access to microloans, savings support, and business mentorship for graduates. Initial focus on SDP alumni trained under Mending A Life initiative.
- UNICEF KenyacorePartnership to help ensure more girls have access to reusable sanitary pads, education, and support. Collaboration highlights power of school communities breaking silence around menstruation.
- Hand in Hand USAsupportingPartner organization focused on women's economic empowerment, aligning with Huru's Skills Development Program.
- Procter & Gamble (P&G)supportingCorporate partner through ThisIsL brand partnership, providing sustainable period care products.
- UNHCR KenyasupportingUN refugee agency partnership supporting menstrual health programs for girls in Dadaab refugee camps.
- Peace CorpssupportingU.S. government agency supporting community development programs globally.
- Tanzania Red CrosssupportingNational Red Cross society partnership for menstrual health programs in Tanzania.
- Warner Bros. DiscoverysupportingMedia company partnership for content and storytelling around girls' education and menstrual health.
- WisersupportingOrganization focused on girls' empowerment and education programs.
- PactsupportingInternational development organization working on social and economic empowerment.
- Micato SafariscoreTravel company with strong philanthropy commitment. Dennis Pinto introduced Tom and Mary to Huru, facilitating donor relationships. Also partnered during 2024 Kenya floods for relief efforts.
- ThisIsL (L.)coreB Corp-certified organic menstrual care company partnership since 2019. L. outfitted Huru's Nairobi facility with 50 industrial sewing machines and has been implementing partner of L's 1-for-1 model. Partnership has provided over 47,300 Huru Kits and reached more than 47,345 girls across Kenya.
- AmericaSharecoreHuru's sister organization operating in informal settlements. Runs one-for-one sponsorship program changing lives through education. Barb A. has supported both AmericaShare and Huru.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Huru International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE): Rwanda-based social enterprise producing affordable menstrual pads from banana fiber. Directly comparable to Huru in addressing period poverty in sub-Saharan Africa with locally manufactured reusable products and combining product distribution with women's economic empowerment.
- Days for Girls: US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that designs, manufactures, and distributes reusable menstrual pad kits globally through a network of local chapters. Directly comparable to Huru in mission, product (reusable cloth pads), and distribution model (partner-based, community-led), though Days for Girls operates with significantly broader geographic reach.
- Myna Mahila Foundation: India-based nonprofit producing low-cost sanitary pads and employing women from urban slums in manufacturing. Comparable to Huru in combining pad manufacturing with women's economic empowerment, local production by disadvantaged women, and addressing period poverty in low-income communities.
- Be Girl: Social enterprise manufacturing reusable menstrual pads and underwear for distribution in developing countries. Comparable to Huru in product offering (reusable pads + underwear kits), target beneficiary (school-age girls), and distribution-led nonprofit/social enterprise hybrid model.
- Afripads: Uganda-based social enterprise manufacturing reusable sanitary pads from local materials. Directly comparable to Huru as an East African reusable pad maker with a hybrid social enterprise model targeting period poverty in the same geographic region.
- The Pad Project: US-based nonprofit founded in response to the 'Period. End of Sentence.' documentary, focused on ending period poverty through pad manufacturing and distribution in developing countries. Comparable to Huru in mission, nonprofit structure, and reusable pad distribution model.
Others
- UNICEF Menstrual Health and Hygiene Programs: UN agency running global menstrual health and hygiene programs including in East Africa. Comparable to Huru as a strategic partner (Huru has an active UNICEF Kenya partnership) and as an organization addressing the same beneficiary population (school-age girls in low-income settings), though UNICEF operates at vastly greater scale and through policy/programmatic funding rather than direct product manufacturing.
- WASH United: International advocacy organization focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) including menstrual health and hygiene advocacy. Comparable to Huru as an adjacent ecosystem actor in the global menstrual health movement, but operates through policy advocacy and education campaigns rather than direct product distribution.
Emerging players
- Ruby Cup: Social enterprise selling reusable menstrual cups with a buy-one-give-one model. Comparable to Huru in addressing period poverty in East Africa with sustainable menstrual products, though focused on cups rather than reusable pads and operating with a hybrid commercial model.
Broad incumbents
- Thinx: Commercial brand specializing in reusable period underwear. Comparable to Huru in reusable menstrual product category and end-beneficiary (menstruating girls/women), though Thinx operates as a US/global commercial retailer rather than a nonprofit, and serves higher-income consumers rather than the period poverty segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Huru International social profiles
Digital presenceHuru International compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Huru International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Huru International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Huru International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Huru International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Huru International
What does Huru International do?
Huru International manufactures and distributes Huru Kits, which include engineered KEBS-certified reusable sanitary pads, underwear, soap, a waterproof storage bag, and educational materials, to school-age girls in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The organization complements physical product distribution with comprehensive menstrual health and reproductive wellness education delivered through school distributions, community outreach, and the Free2 mobile app. It also operates a Skills Development Program that provides vocational training, financial literacy, and microloan access to young women, addressing period poverty and economic empowerment together.
Is Huru International a public or private company?
Huru International is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Huru International founded?
Huru International was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Huru International based?
Huru International is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Huru International make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships and government and Institutional Grants.
Who are Huru International's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE), Days for Girls, Myna Mahila Foundation, Be Girl, Afripads and The Pad Project. Others are UNICEF Menstrual Health and Hygiene Programs and WASH United. Ruby Cup is listed as an emerging player. Thinx is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Huru International have an API?
No public API is recorded for Huru International.
What industry is Huru International in?
Huru International's product category is Menstrual Health Nonprofit. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRABAIAB, Menstrual Pads (Reusable/Cloth), with a secondary code of CRADALAG, Feminine Hygiene Products (Pads, Tampons, Liners). Its NAICS code is 3159 and its SIC code is 2340.