Condoms.
Not just any condom, a reusable condom.
I'm sure you're thinking,
"Jennifer, that is the first thing that you do not do with a condom."
(Laughter)
Or "Jennifer, that's disgusting!",
because those are the usual comments I get when I tell people
that I've created a reusable condom business.
But let me first explain how I came up with this idea.
When I was 12, I decided to start saving for a trip to India;
when I was 20 I left for India by myself.
And when I got there, there was a non-government organization
that allowed me to do school education, health education, or women's loan groups.
But, basically, when I am in a village
if they need help reproducing chickens more quickly,
you just read a book and try to figure it out.
After two semesters had gone by, I said, "I'm not ready to come home yet,"
and so, I flew to Ghana, Africa.
And there, I had the privilege of doing some preliminary work
for a girls' home called The Pearl House.
After that, I got to spend some time in a rural village.
Some of the pictures that will be playing behind me are from that village.
This village had no electricity and no running water.
We lived in mud huts.
Children had swollen bellies from malnutrition;
men and women, of all ages, were dying from malaria,
and some of the girls were being trafficked.
Places like this are real, and it's just not something we see on TV.
When you come home from a trip like this, reverse culture-shock is at its highest.
I was mad at myself, and I was mad at America,
every time I thought about using my iPhone,
purchasing a 50 dollar pair of jeans,
or just simply turning on the water.
And I am thinking, "Oh my gosh, what am I doing with my life?
This is crazy! This is not OK, and I have to do something!"
So, I was sitting in class, here at OSU,
talking about marketing techniques for condom packaging,
and this is where I came up with my reusable condom idea.
And of course, when I pitched the idea, the other students laughed hysterically.
I knew that was going to happen.
But a few months later,
OSU began the development of a reusable condom.
So, let me explain how it works:
after you use the condom, you're able to boil it for 20 minutes,
and it's good for up to 100 uses.
People in places like Ghana, Africa, don't have access to contraceptives,
so what they're doing is using the withdrawal method,
which we know that it does not work, and doesn't prevent disease.
But, let's say they are able to get to some sort of market;
they're going to purchase rice, fruits and vegetables,
or malaria antibiotics
over one, single, disposable condom.
Current condom materials are not reusable
because they do not retain their shape or their elasticity after a single use,
or after being boiled in water.
But they can retain their strength, their texture, and barrier properties,
but only up to a certain thickness,
and after this, they're going to lose their desirability and sensitivity.
Any new condom material will be successful in the marketplace
only if it can perform far better than current condom materials.
OSU has been doing some incredible work.
They've been able to formulate many new materials
that are able to withstand the boiling process
and return to their original shape.
And in the next month, OSU will test those materials.
Let me go ahead and say I don't need any volunteers,
there are other methods for testing.
But my passion is for every single one of you
to go to these places and see these needs for yourself.
Listen, like I said, these places are real.
We could hop on a plane and be there in 12 hours.
We could be there tomorrow morning.
And once you're there, I promise, you'll see these people are worth it.
I know a reusable condom might be an awkward thing to talk about,
but I'm going to choose an uncomfortable life
that's going to benefit others.
And so, I hope all of us will dream innovative ideas with others in mind
so together can prevent disease,
prolong life, and do something other than for ourselves.
Thank you.
(Applause)