Empower Girls in Uganda with Menstrual Health

In 2023, Days for Girls (DfG) Uganda celebrated remarkable progress, reaching 15,504 individuals with menstrual products and Menstrual Health (MH) education. This achievement represents a substantial increase from the 9,794 individuals reached in the previous year.

One highlight of our work is our ongoing collaboration with CARE International in providing essential menstrual products and education to 4,500 displaced people living in the Kyangwali and Kyaka Refugee Settlements. This partnership remains instrumental in engaging with community members, fostering empowerment through education and access to menstrual products.

Furthermore, DfG Uganda continued and grew a valuable partnership with Good Neighbors International this year, expanding our collective social mission to make a positive difference in more lives.

In November and December, our dedicated team at DfG Uganda embarked on comprehensive site visits to all eight DfG Enterprises in the country. These visits were instrumental in enhancing the Enterprises’ operational efficiency. Our team delved into crucial aspects such as washable pad quality, production best practices, supply chain optimization, capacity building, reporting mechanisms and strategic business and marketing approaches. The insights gained during site visits have laid a robust foundation for our 2024 plans.

The collaborative spirit, commitment and dedication exhibited by the DfG Uganda team and Enterprises are undeniably the driving force behind its achievements. We look forward to the continual growth of our initiatives making a lasting impact on the communities we serve. Together, we are supporting Ugandan women and girls with the menstrual knowledge and resources they need to ensure a brighter and more confident future.

Your contribution to the Days for Girls’ Empowering African Girls with Health and Education project is making a positive impact in East Africa.

In Uganda, Days for Girls fostered a partnership with Good Neighbours, a Uganda-based nonprofit, to implement a sexual reproductive health and rights improvement project for 150 girls from Iziru, Wairaka, Bituli and Kagoma primary schools to reduce absenteeism, early pregnancy and school dropouts among girls by increasing their access to sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) knowledge and by providing menstrual health management products for girl children. Project deliverables were to:

• Provide menstrual health management training to 150 girls
• Capacity building program for 50 parents of girls
• Produce, conduct menstrual health education and distribute 620 DfG washable menstrual pad Kits

Days for Girls conducted an SRHR training for 150 girls where education on hygiene, anatomy, puberty, menstruation, abstinence, STIs and non-STIs, HIV/AIDS, human rights, self-defense and sexual gender-based violence were discussed. To evaluate the impact of the training, the DfG Survey toolkit was used to test the girls’ knowledge of SRHR topics before and after the training. The training itself was conducted using demonstrations, lectures and brainstorming, group discussions, skits and games.

Your kind generosity also enabled us to conduct capacity-building training for 25 parents of girls from the Iziru, Namaganga and Wairaka primary schools. The parents were equipped with SRHR knowledge and sustainable livelihood skills, namely sewing and soap-making skills. The training was facilitated by a number of trainers from the Days for Girls team. Survey results of participants before and after the training showed a 100% increase in SRHR knowledge. Days for Girls recognizes that economically stable homes positively impact girls' overall success and empowerment.

Meanwhile, Days for Girls distributed 310 Smart Starter Kits to girls in the Iziru, Wairaka, Bituli and Kagoma primary schools. Each menstrual Kit represents either a girl who will not miss school or activities she enjoys because of her period or a woman who will be able to provide for herself and her family without period poverty holding her back. These DfG Kits and MH education help girls gain back days at school and work, days that help them reach their full potential both academically and socially. 

We know that when we invest in girls, their potential is unleashed, and entire communities are elevated! Thank you for your part in this important endeavor.