Dignity & Education for 2,000 Girls: Menstrual Hea

Reporting Period: April – June 2026
Report Date: June 30, 2026
Submitted by: Simachew Yigzaw, Executive Director, BDCA

Dear GlobalGiving Team and Valued Supporters,

I hope this report finds you well. On behalf of the entire BDCA team and the 2,000 girls we are committed to serving, I want to express our deepest gratitude for the opportunity to partner with GlobalGiving. Your platform has connected us with a global community of change makers, and we are honored to be part of this network.

Project Status Update

As of this reporting period, we have not yet secured funding for the Dignity & Education for 2,000 Girls: Menstrual Health project. While we remain hopeful and actively engaged in resource mobilization efforts, we have not been able to commence programmatic activities on the ground.

This project remains a top priority for BDCA. We have completed all preparatory groundwork, including:

• Needs Assessment: A comprehensive assessment confirming that menstrual health management remains a critical barrier to education for adolescent girls in our target communities.
• Partnership Development: Established relationships with local schools, health clinics, and women's associations to ensure seamless implementation once funding is secured.
• Supply Chain Planning: Identified reliable suppliers for sanitary pads, reusable menstrual kits, and educational materials at competitive prices.
• Community Engagement: Conducted awareness sessions with parents, teachers, and community leaders to build local ownership and reduce stigma around menstruation.

All of these preparatory activities have been undertaken with in-kind contributions from BDCA's existing resources and the generous volunteer time of our staff and community partners. We have not drawn down any funds from GlobalGiving, as no donations have been received to date.

Commitment to Our Girls

While we have not yet been able to deliver the dignity kits, hygiene training, or educational workshops we have promised, our commitment to the 2,000 girls we serve remains unwavering. Every day that passes without funding is a day we carry in our hearts—knowing that girls are missing school, falling behind their male peers, and experiencing shame and isolation that no child should endure.

We are not giving up. We are exploring every possible avenue—foundation grants, corporate partnerships, individual donors, and crowd funding campaigns—to bring this project to life. We believe deeply in the power of menstrual health education and access to sanitary products to transform lives, keep girls in school, and break cycles of poverty.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, we are committed to:

1. Continuing Fundraising Efforts: We will intensify our outreach to potential donors, leveraging GlobalGiving’s platform and our own networks to raise the necessary funds.
2. Maintaining Community Readiness: We will sustain our relationships with schools and health clinics so that we can mobilize quickly once funding is secured.
3. Reporting Transparently: We will continue to provide honest, timely updates to our GlobalGiving community, sharing both our challenges and our hopes.
4. Scaling Impact: When funding is secured, we aim not only to serve the 2,000 girls initially targeted but to build a sustainable model that can be replicated in other communities.

We are also exploring innovative approaches, including the production of locally made, reusable sanitary pads that can create livelihood opportunities for women in our communities while addressing the menstrual health needs of schoolgirls.

Appreciation

We are profoundly grateful to GlobalGiving for the trust you have placed in us and for the visibility you provide to grassroots organizations like BDCA. Your commitment to transparency, local leadership, and community-driven solutions inspires us every day. Even without funding, being part of the GlobalGiving community has strengthened our capacity, expanded our network, and reminded us that we are not alone in this work.

To every donor who has visited our project page, shared our story, or kept us in their thoughts—thank you. Your belief in the dignity and potential of every girl fuels our determination to keep pushing forward.

Closing Reflection

I am reminded of a conversation I had with a 14-year-old girl named Tirunesh in one of our target communities. When I asked her what she dreamed of becoming, she said, "A doctor." Then she paused and added, "But I don't know how I will finish school if I cannot manage my periods." That conversation is why I wake up every morning. That is why BDCA exists. And that is why we will not stop until Tirunesh and 1,999 other girls like her have the dignity, education, and opportunity they deserve.

We will report again in three months. Until then, we remain hopeful, determined, and deeply grateful for your partnership.

With respect and hope,

Links:

• 3. Project Name: Dignity & Education for 2,000 Girls: Menstrual