Empower Girls in Uganda with Menstrual Health

Thanks to your support through GlobalGiving, Days for Girls was able to advance our work in Malawi with some incredible impact to share! By combining donations from a number of generous supporters like you, we set forth an action plan to reach 5,000 girls in some of the most remote and poorest villages in Malawi this year. Your funding has helped us move closer to this goal! 

After official meetings with the First Lady of Malawi, along with other cabinet members, we participated in one of the most exciting events Days for Girls has ever hosted.  Our three amazing Malawi Enterprise leaders organized a celebration event and distribution for over 600 girls to receive DfG Kits, along with a health training. The entire community turned out including tribal chiefs, school personnel and lots and lots of girls and their families! 

Our local  leaders rejoiced in the recognition of what they had accomplished and even more exciting, what was to come. They have a clear vision to reach the entire country of Malawi with our program based on the support of so many who have come together, including you! 

Our local Days for Girls Malawi team recently headed out to the Neno district, in South Malawi. This is one of the most remote regions of Malawi, which meant they traveled by 4x4 cars and traversed treacherous roads to reach these remote villages.  

On a daily basis, girls walk many kilometres to get to school, carrying pails of water on their heads from the valleys up steep hills. Often, to avoid the dangerous and difficult journey they remain at the school for days, cooking and cleaning for themselves.  

Unfortunately a majority of these girls don’t complete secondary school. Instead, they are married off in a country that has one of the highest rates of early marriage in the world. One study estimates approximately 42% of girls are married before the age of 18, and 9% below the age of 15. While boys' marriage age comes much later with an estimated 1% of boys marrying before the age of 15 and 6% below the age of 18. Yet, because of your support, this dire number is beginning to change. 

With determination and passion, our team reached 630 girls in 7 different schools with Days for Girls washable pads and health education this quarter. But what is even more remarkable is how these health conversations helped to empower girls to see that there are other opportunities ahead and role models that can help them see a different future. 

Thank you!