Pads for Peace is a program that continues to help 2,000 girls complete their secondary education and, as a result, give them a brighter future. Currently, girls in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya are missing school because they lack sanitary pads. Women are employed to sew and sell the reusable sanitary pads in the community as a source of income. The kits, including reusable pads, underpants and washing supplies, are distributed to girls in the slum who take sex education/empowerment classes
Only 20% of African girls go on to secondary school. (They are 50% less likely to be enrolled in school as boys.) They fall behind their male counterparts when, once a month, they miss a week of school because they lack access to sanitary pads. As a result, they are unable to remain clean during the school day. Because girls are not completing their education, their ability to earn income and be removed from the cycle of poverty is diminished.
We help by donating reusable sanitary pads to girls who take reproductive education/empowerment classes. These pads are made from soft, absorbent fabrics. Because the girls can stay in school during their menstrual cycle, they do not have to miss a week of school each month and fall behind. By attending school, the girls are more likely to earn an education and to raise themselves and their families out of poverty.
Our project objective is to donate sanitary pads to some 2,000 school girls. By giving 2,000 girls the opportunity to finish school, our hope is that we are giving them the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty. With more African girls enabled to finish school and earn an income, we hope that these girls set an example and empower other young African girls to do the same. The women who sew and sell the pads, working and earning income for their families, are wonderful role-models.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
