EMPOWERING 800 SCHOOL GIRLS HYGIENE IN LILONGWE

Hello Mulibwanji? 

This is the second term in the 2023-2024 academic year. It has been one of the busiest quarter as we managed to visit different schools to train girls on how to sew reusable sanitary pads, introduce sewing clubs and also conduct girl talk sessions. This term we visited five schools namely; Chipasula secondary, Minga secondary, Kaps secondary, New Insight and Mseche secondary school. 

Training of reusable sanitary pads

During this quarter, Go for Girls project trained 131 girls on how to sew reusable sanitary pads. The valuable skills that these girls have acquired in making own reusable sanitary pads will benefit them long term-whilst there are in school but also when they finish their secondary level as they have been economically empowered. We also encourage these girls to train their siblings as well as other community members. 

Advantages of reusable sanitary pads

• They are durable
• They are not expensive (not bought every month)
• They are organic, since no chemicals are involved when making the sanitary pads
• They are comfy.
• They are environmental friendly
• It is another way of empowering girls economically whilst they are in school 

As the project officer I, encourage these girls to build up the skills acquired as they have the capability of combating problems regarding  menstruation that exist amongst many girls in the country. 

Sewing clubs has been introduced in all the 5 schools that we visited. The clubs are open to all students even those with no experience with the aim of teaching girls sew different patterns whilst they are in school. Through the sessions we have seen girls enjoying the creative process, improved concentration, and they have learnt how to work with their hands. As a result, these skills will help them become more independent and self-motivated. 

Girl Talk

A very commended platform that go for girls created to engage/interact with the girls and which is highly praised by the girls themselves in all the schools that we visit.

We cover topics from menstrual hygiene, carrier development, mental health and Aids, Early marriages and other general concerns. During these sessions we create an atmosphere where girls do open up to us by asking questions/comments from the topics covered as well as questions from their own encounters. 

It is a platform which by far has transformed many girls, lives when it comes to opening up on sensitive issues, considering that our cultures somehow limits children to be very close/open up to their parents as respect towards parents is much observed. Go for girls bridges that gap by advising girls to open up to us as social workers and also build relationships with their parents so that they can easily share what they are going through. 

During this quarter we managed to reach to 252 girls and plan to visit as many schools as possible as funds may be available.Headteachers, teachers and girls commend this program as it encourages, motivates and provides a healthy social wellbeing to girls whilst they are studying. 

As one way of encouraging girls to focus on their future and set goals in life, girls were able to make own vision boards that serves as a constant reminder of the goals that are to be achieved by investing their full focus on their studies. 

Achievements

• Introduction of sewing clubs(girls sewing bags)
• Boosted confidence in girls( opening up and asking of general questions)
• Girls interacting
• Menstrual hygiene
• Sewing skills acquired
• Girls become career focused 

Challenges

• Sewing clubs that have been introduced requires sewing machines so that the program may run effectively and efficiently. Materials to be available at all these schools for the progress of the clubs
• Visiting the schools regularly to monitor the progress of the project becomes a challenge due to lack of funds for transportation.

 Future Plans

• The project to expand to other regions in the country.
• To introduce counselling programmes in areas of mental health, relationships and HIV/Aids.

 Immediate Assistance

During this quarter we have maintained the program of assisting girls from Kaps secondary with sanitary pads so that they stay in school whenever they are in their menses. This mechanism has also proved to be a contributing factor to low absenteeism amongst girls. We would have loved to be providing girls from all the schools we work with, with sanitary pads .This programme can only be possible if enough funds are available.

 Panned activities

• Teaching fundamental sewing skills
• Teaching how to cut and mark pattern pieces
• Sewing different patterns and other basics.
• Teaching how to sew min (different patterns)

                                                                                                                                                                               Conclusion

Go for girls is one of the projects that is promoting education and building girls’ futures through its different impactful programs here in Malawi. We are reaching to girls/schools where our programs are highly valued as they bring change to a community through these girls. As a project officer, personally extend my gratitude as I directly can confirm that your support brings a change in a girls, life. We continue to THANK YOU for the support that you are tirelessly rendering to our organisation. 

Links:

• Website
• Facebook

• Full report (DOCX)

Hello (Mulibwanji)

I hope you are doing fine? I write to to give you an update our first term in the 2023-2024 academic year. It has been one of the busy month as we managed to visit different schools to conduct girl talk session, train girls on to sew reusables feminine products and other materials and also introduce sewing clubs. 

Girl Talk

Interacting with the girls through this program has proved to be very effective and productictive as many girls are now opening up and speak up on sensitive issues and challenges they face in their day to day lifes.We have managed to provide immediate solutions and counselling to girls who approached us to provide them with guidance. The number of girls that were reached through this program from September –November is 143 girls. Schools visited were New Insight, Mseche, Minga and Kaps.

Girls were able to make own vision boards that is serves as a constant reminder of the goals that are to be achieved by investing their full focus on their studies.

Sewing Lessons

During this quarter, go for girls project visited 2 schools namely; Mseche and Minga secondary school where we conducted sewing lessons and trained 63 girls. Sewing club has been introduced in these schools so that girls may be able to acquired sewing skills whilst at school.so apart from girls making own reusable pads, other girls did a simple pattern of  draw string bags. .

It is very encouraging to see girls interested in the introduction of the sewing club in their schools. The skills that they will acquire will be of a benefit to them personally as well as their siblings and the community as they are advised to pass on the skills to others. Economically, these girls are hereby also empowered.

During this quarter we have managed to maintain the program of assisting Kaps girls with the sanitaries so that they stay in school. This mechanism has also proved to be contributing factor to low absenteeism amongst girls.

Achievements

-        Introduction of sewing clubs

-        Boosted confidence in girls( opening up and asking of general question)

-        Menstrual hygiene practised

-        Sewing skills acquired

-        Girls become carrier focused

Challenges

-        Under resourced : this still stands as our main challenge as we only visit few schools and all this are in the central region, whilst our vision is to extend to other districts and reach as many girls as possible.

-        Sewing clubs that have been introduced requires sewing machines so that the program may run effectively and efficiently.

-        Visiting the schools regularly to monitor the progress of the project becomes a challenge due to lack of funds for transportation.

Future Plans

     -      The project to expand to other regions in the country.

    -       To introduce counselling programmes in areas of mental health, relationships and

            HIV/Aids.

                                                                                                                                                                              Conclusion

Studies in Malawi shows that many female students in the rural and urban area stay away from schools for at least five days during their biological cycle, a development that affects their performance in class. Training these girls how to make own hygienic protection as well as advising them to be goal oriented and take full responsibility of their lives is the best way of promoting education and building futures in Malawi amongst girls.

We continue to THANK YOU for the support you render to our organisation. Many girls’ livelihood has changed because of your kind gesture. 

Links:

• Website
• Facebook
• Christmas Giving Link