Affordable Sanitary Pads for 1500 Ugandan Girls

Dear wonderful donors,

I have great news for you! This update will focus on our progress with the MakaPad initiative but be on the lookout for another update coming soon on the health outreach program!

I returned from a trip to Uganda a few weeks ago with another volunteer, Scott Krenitski. Together we worked with Dr. Musaazi (inventor of MakaPads) and Kasiisi Project to sort of the final details including costs of transportation and distribution of the pads, and are pleased to report great success!

CONGRATULATIONS DONORS, because of your continued support, beginning this September, Kasiisi Project will officially commence the donation of MakaPads to the schools in place of the imported American brands. This adjustment will:

1.   Open up room in the budget (MakaPads are less expensive than imported American Pads)

2.   Support a local business (Technology 4 Tomorrow, Africa)

3.   Help with conservation efforts near the Kibale National Forrest (MakaPads are made of papyrus, rec...

Hello again donors!

Thanks again so much for your continued support. Check out Elizabeth Ross' new blog entry at http://kasiisiproject.blogspot.com/2010/06/girls-peer-education-program-success.html to read about the success of the girls peer education program this year. Its wonderful to see how successful the program has been so far, and hopefully in the coming years the program can be spread to more primary schools! Your support has been absolutely instrumental to the development of this program by supporting our community health worker, providing supplies for health education courses, donating sanitary pads and more. None of these successes are possible without the many many people who have contributed to this program. So, again, thank you! I head to Uganda Monday so I will have more news and stories in August when I'm back home.

Until then... spread the word about Kasiisi Project, send a message via email or GlobalGiving with comments, suggestions or questions, and remember...

Thank you thank you thank you! I can say of behalf of Kasiisi Project, that we could not be more excited (or wonderfully surprised) to have reached one year on GlobalGiving and to have raised over $64,000 from almost 1,500 unique donors!

This year has been quite remarkable for the progress of the Kasiisi Project's Girls Support Program.

A brief summary:

Having conducted baseline research for the peer education program, and connecting Kasiisi Project and MakaPads, we are finally moving toward more tangible progress. The Community Health Worker has begun conducting health classes for the 5 primary schools, and after one more training session with the Jane Goodall Institute, will begin training peer leaders herself. After this summer, a curriculum for health education will be integrated into the school curriculum. The five primary schools each have their own set of risks, so ensuring the curriculum is adaptable to the specifics of each environment will be a challenge. At Kigar...

Hey Everyone,

Thanks as always for your generous donations.

I wanted to update everyone on an new "Kasiisi Project Blog". This blog updates about all programs of Kasiisi Project (not just the Girls' Support Program) and is a valuable way to stay up to date with the happenings of the overall organization! Check it out! Also, please find the new images of the progress of latrine construction at Kigarama Primary School!!

Thanks for your continued support.

As always please respond with question/comments/suggestions.

International Women's Day is March 8, and to celebrate women in Uganda, we wanted to tell you about all the great work we've been doing at Kasiisi Project Girls Support Program.

Here is an excerpt from a meeting on January 20th:

"Assessment of current KFSSSP Health and Girl’s support programs.

The new project nurse, Kabajansi Lucy, the KFSSSP health education and girl’s peer education programs were discussed. All participants were pleased with both Lucy and the programs so far and wanted to continue to implement and expand them. The issues of girls accessing washing facilities and soap in a discreet manner was raised particularly in schools with a male Headmaster, and the following solutions suggested:

1.) Small carved off spaces for senior woman teachers to talk privately with girls

2.) Appointment of female deputies

3.) Easily accessible soap on wash stands

4.) Proper girl’s latrines with washing facilities incorporated into them

Since Lucy has taken over t...

Check out the Annual Report for Kasiisi Project International!

Happy New Years from the Kasiisi Project Girls Support Program!

Elizabeth Ross is in Uganda starting next week and we should have some photos as soon as she returns. We are purchasing five new Girls' Only Latrines (at $5,000 each). The privacy of single sex latrines is very important for girls to feel comfortable at school. FYI, pads are purchased at the beginning of each term for the girls.

Thank you for a wonderful 2009! We've been around on GlobalGiving since April and thanks to all of your generous donations and support we have passed $50,000 and 1,000 unique donors in less than nine months. We are endlessly grateful to Oprah's registry, many committed individual supporters and The Milton & Beatrice Wind Foundation. Your generous support incredible and is making a HUGE difference. I look forward to being able to send you all some new photos when Elizabeth returns from Uganda of the progress of the latrines!

Please feel free to contact us anytime. For those of you who ha...

Happy New Years from the Kasiisi Project Girls Support Program!

Elizabeth Ross is in Uganda starting next week and we should have some photos as soon as she returns. We are purchasing five new Girls' Only Latrines (at $5,000 each). The privacy of single sex latrines is very important for girls to feel comfortable at school. FYI, pads are purchased at the beginning of each term for the girls.

Thank you for a wonderful 2009! We've been around on GlobalGiving since April and thanks to all of your generous donations and support we have passed $50,000 and 1,000 unique donors in less than nine months. We are endlessly grateful to Oprah's registry, many committed individual supporters and The Milton & Beatrice Wind Foundation. Your generous support incredible and is making a HUGE difference. I look forward to being able to send you all some new photos when Elizabeth returns from Uganda of the progress of the latrines!

Please feel free to contact us anytime. For those of you who ha...

Happy Holidays!

We were featured on the Vanderbilt University Website. In this movie you can watch Dr. Musaazi himself speak.

Click on the video on the front page of vanderbilt.edu called, "Watch: VUCast: A life-changing journey, food that fills the soul and a holiday party that keeps on giving"

I will attach the video as soon as possible.

Thanks again.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Kasiisi Project Girls Support Program is incredibly thankful for your continued support of girls in the Kabarole District of Uganda. Such enthusiastic support is allowing progress to be made at a wonderful rate.

From Uganda:

We've just received results from a survey regarding MakaPads and are looking to expand the reach of the peer education programs. Lucy, the community health worker is continuing to visit the five primary schools regularly providing counsel and accurate information to the girls and boys alike.

In the States:

On November 13, 2009, Dr. Moses Musaazi visited the Vanderbilt University campus! He spoke in a variety of venues to graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and a variety of other visitors. Those present were inspired by his drive to find appropriate-technology based solutions to problems faced by Ugandans (and others) on a daily basis. Water and air quality, deforestation, rubbish disposal, and employment are...

Thank you so much for all of your continued support. It has been exciting to have Kasiisi Girls Support Project recognized by Oprah on her new registry: for all women.

Next month continues to be exciting as Dr. Moses Kissa Musaazi (MakaPad inventor) is coming to the United States for a conference on technology in DC. While in the US he will visit Vanderbilt University.

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Here's a snapshot of a profile of a Ugandan Girl affected by the Girls Support Project:

In brief, a typical P7 (the equivalent of 6th grade) student at Kasiisi Primary School lives with her father and mother; sings in the school choir; plays netball; and likes to dance. However, when a girl gets her period, just getting to school (let alone enjoying her normal school activities) is a challenge. It is extremely tempting to skip school during this time. Girls worry about odor and leaks, and boys at school tease may her and pressure her to have sexual relations with them. Most girls have a friend who drop so...

Lots of new updates...

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Check out the attached report from this summer's work

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Here's a sample of some of the questions girls asked me during small group meetings. The girls in P5 – P 7 (4th grade – 6th grade) asked a ton of really valuable questions. Some were alarmingly false (the first one for example…) and others were remarkably intelligent and based in a good understanding of STDs, hygiene, sexual behaviors, and relationships.

Q: Is it true that if I don’t play sex by the time I’m 17 years old I will develop a bone in my private part and never be able to have children?

Q: Why do girls get their menstrual period and boys do not?

Q: What are the signs of Chlamydia?

Q: If someone with HIV coughs on me, can I get it?

Q: Can I share clothing with someone with HIV, or will I get HIV?

Q: How can I make my breasts develop? Does playing sex make them come faster?

Q: How can I best protect myself against STDs?

Q: If someone has HIV, what is a good way f...

Hi Everyone!

Thank you for your continued support.

Sarah and I just got back from a six week trip to Uganda.

“We spent the first four weeks in Kampala, Uganda. During this time we worked with the director of Technology 4 Tomorrow, Dr. Moses Musaazi, a professor and inventor at Makerere University. It is Dr. Musaazi who created and engineered MakaPads. With his small staff, we learned more about the product, production, and future possibilities of this important product for young women and old. To support Dr. Musaazi’s research, we spent the majority of our time in Kampala interviewing women employed through the production of MakaPads, visiting local NGOs, band, embassies, UN organizations discussing possibilities for CSR investments.

The following two weeks we were in the Kabarole District working with Kasiisi Project Girls' Support Program. We (Sarah, Lucy-the local nurse, and I) worked the five primary schools, working with the head masters, head women (responsibl...

Hi Everyone!

Thanks again for all of your continued support!

Sarah Quirk and I take off for Uganda this Saturday, and wanted to update you on a few quick things before we head off.

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Please Check out the newly updated website: http://www.kasiisiproject.org/KPGirlSupport/KP_Girls_Support_Program.html

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You may follow our blogs while we're away. Sarah's in not up and running yet, but once it is you will be able to find it on the Kasiisi Project website. I am bloging for change.org at: http://globalservice.change.org/blog?guest_blogger_id=257

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You may also follow us on twitter @KPGirls

Have a wonderful summer and we'll check in again when we've returned!

Best Wishes,

Alice Bator

Hello everyone!

Lots of good news...

First I want to thank you thank you thank you (webale muno, muno, muno) from the girls of Kasiisi Project for contributing to "Affordable Sanitary Pads for 1500 Ugandan Girls" during the recent challenge. As a result of your contributions, we can came in 1st place for number of donors (!) and 2nd place for total funds raised. This means we also received a $3,000 bonus toward the project! Additionally, because we exceeded $4,000 and 50 donors, our project now has a permanent spot on GlobalGiving!

As for project updates...

Yesterday, I spoke on the phone Professor Moses Musaazi, the inventor of MakaPads. Sarah and I will work conduct field research with him this summer. Likewise, initial implementation will begin in a few weeks when surveys, interviews, and general preparation begin at the affiliated schools. More to come later in the summer once there is more concrete information to relay.

In the meantime you can follow the progress of...