One Girl,One Pad, One sucess story at a time!

I have worked with Mfariji Africa as a volunteer for the last few months and I have felt very touched by Mfariji Africa’s mission and proud to be part of Mfariji’s cause. Growing up in an urban area in Kenya, not a thought crossed my mind of how severe issues surrounding menstruation in marginalized rural areas are. It’s easy to assume so much and take much for granted like owning underwear, having access to soap, toilet paper, pads and tampons, availability of water and clean washrooms. I would like to explain the situation faced by girls in marginalized rural areas when it’s that time of the month.

In marginalized rural areas in Kenya, the situation is dire compared to urban areas. Traditional beliefs, misconceptions, and restrictions regarding menstruation are rampant in these marginalized rural areas putting the girls and even their mothers at risks of infections. With no panties, no sanitary towels and barely clean water and soap to clean themselves, the solutions are desperate. Some stuff their underwear with wool, some use old rags, some use feathers, some use goat skin, some pieces of old mattresses, some leaves and a majority opt to stay away from school just because they cannot afford sanitary towels. These Majority will miss classes for 4 days in a month when menstruating. That translates to 13 days (2 weeks) per term and 6 weeks in a year of missed learning days. The girls lag behind and this hinders the goals to achieve universal primary completion by the end of a year.

I would like to commend the work done by Mfariji Africa as a whole; the teams, donors, partners and of course, the selfless volunteers. I can truly attest to the fact that indeed their work improves the lives of Kenyan girls. The provision of Sanitary towels goes a long way in helping these girls to stay in school, avoid missing classes and complete their education. Mostly the personalized interactive mentoring sessions are sensational! The girls are able to interact freely, ask questions and get clarification on menstrual health and hygiene; they get to learn how to wear pads and how to stay clean and safe from infections. The most beautiful thing is seeing how these girls faces light up when they get supplies of sanitary towels and underwear. I have learnt firsthand the importance of empowering these girls. It builds the foundation for generations to come, and brings forth a generation of well educated, knowledgeable women and women leaders.

SUSAN.