WEBVTT

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Condoms.

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Not just any condom, a reusable condom.

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I'm sure you're thinking,

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"Jennifer, that is the first thing
that you do not do with a condom."

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(Laughter)

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Or "Jennifer, that's disgusting!",

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because those are the usual comments
I get when I tell people

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that I've created
a reusable condom business.

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But let me first explain
how I came up with this idea.

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When I was 12, I decided
to start saving for a trip to India;

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when I was 20 I left for India by myself.

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And when I got there, there was
a non-government organization

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that allowed me to do school education,
health education, or women's loan groups.

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But, basically, when I am in a village

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if they need help
reproducing chickens more quickly,

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you just read a book 
and try to figure it out.

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After two semesters had gone by, I said,
"I'm not ready to come home yet,"

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and so, I flew to Ghana, Africa.

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And there, I had the privilege
of doing some preliminary work

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for a girls' home called The Pearl House.

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After that, I got to spend
some time in a rural village.

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Some of the pictures that will be playing
behind me are from that village.

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This village had no electricity
and no running water.

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We lived in mud huts.

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Children had swollen bellies
from malnutrition;

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men and women, of all ages,
were dying from malaria,

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and some of the girls
were being trafficked.

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Places like this are real,
and it's just not something we see on TV.

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When you come home from a trip like this,
reverse culture-shock is at its highest.

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I was mad at myself,
and I was mad at America,

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every time I thought 
about using my iPhone,

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purchasing a 50 dollar pair of jeans,

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or just simply turning on the water.

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And I am thinking, "Oh my gosh,
what am I doing with my life?

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This is crazy! This is not OK,
and I have to do something!"

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So, I was sitting in class, here at OSU,

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talking about marketing techniques
for condom packaging,

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and this is where I came up
with my reusable condom idea.

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And of course, when I pitched the idea,
the other students laughed hysterically.

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I knew that was going to happen.

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But a few months later,

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OSU began the development
of a reusable condom.

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So, let me explain how it works:

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after you use the condom,
you're able to boil it for 20 minutes,

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and it's good for up to 100 uses.

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People in places like Ghana, Africa,
don't have access to contraceptives,

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so what they're doing
is using the withdrawal method,

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which we know that it does not work,
and doesn't prevent disease.

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But, let's say they are able
to get to some sort of market;

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they're going to purchase rice,
fruits and vegetables,

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or malaria antibiotics

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over one, single, disposable condom.

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Current condom materials are not reusable

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because they do not retain their shape
or their elasticity after a single use,

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or after being boiled in water.

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But they can retain their strength,
their texture, and barrier properties,

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but only up to a certain thickness,

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and after this, they're going to lose
their desirability and sensitivity.

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Any new condom material
will be successful in the marketplace

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only if it can perform far better
than current condom materials.

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OSU has been doing some incredible work.

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They've been able to formulate
many new materials

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that are able to withstand
the boiling process

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and return to their original shape.

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And in the next month,
OSU will test those materials.

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Let me go ahead and say
I don't need any volunteers,

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there are other methods for testing.

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But my passion is
for every single one of you

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to go to these places
and see these needs for yourself.

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Listen, like I said,
these places are real.

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We could hop on a plane
and be there in 12 hours.

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We could be there tomorrow morning.

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And once you're there, I promise,
you'll see these people are worth it.

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I know a reusable condom
might be an awkward thing to talk about,

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but I'm going to choose
an uncomfortable life

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that's going to benefit others.

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And so, I hope all of us will dream
innovative ideas with others in mind

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so together can prevent disease,

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prolong life, and do something
other than for ourselves.

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Thank you.

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(Applause)