EMPOWERING 800 SCHOOL GIRLS HYGIENE IN LILONGWE

Hello Mulibwanji?

This is the third term in the 2022-2023 academic year. Earlier this year, Malawi was hit by a very intense tropical cyclone Freddy which killed many people and destroyed houses and crops. Across the affected areas; schools, churches, community –based childcare centers and other make-shift community structures were established to house people displaced by the disaster.

A call for help to donate any items including hygienic sanitary pads to the victims reached our office and Go for Girls project took a step of sewing 500 sanitary pads and these reusable sanitary pads were distributed amongst school girls who were around the affected area of Blantyre.

We were approached to sew 300 reusable sanitary pads that were on demand for the schools in rural areas of Chiwamba and Salima because there is a high rate of absenteeism amongst girls who go to these schools and lack of hygienic protection was noted to be amongst the contributing factor. Trainings of girls how to sew reusable sanitary pads was suspended during this quarter as we had to respond to the emergencies that were at hand.

Girl Talk

Schools are going for a long break from 21st July – 11th September and so many negative things do happen to these learners when they are not in school as they do not have anything to keep them busy. Go for girls had to talk to these boys and girls on how to maintain their moral values, visit libraries and be goal-focused whilst at home. Assisting girls with sanitary pads

KAPS SCHOOL

The programme of assisting school girls with immediate assistance is very commended by the beneficiaries at Kaps as this helps them to stay in school and not miss classes. Girls who unexpectedly start their cycle at school do visit our BFM office and they are immediately given a sanitary pad and medicine when they complain of stomachaches. Many girls proceed with their studies and do not go home as they used to before the programme was implemented.

Achievement in the previous term

- Girls and boys became carrier focused

- 800 people owning a hygienic reusable pad

- Improved school attendance amongst girls - Boosted confidence amongst girls

Challenges

- Operating in central region alone instead of expanding to other districts in the country

- We only have 1 manual sewing machine and this delays efficiency in completing tasks

Future Plans

- Expand the project in all 29 districts

- To introduce immediate assistance scheme in all the schools we work with

- Introduce sewing clubs in schools Conclusion

The programme that are incorporated in Go for girls project are in line with our goals of promoting education here in Malawi. With your continued support I know we have and will be striving to achieve our set goals.

Be assured that your support is highly valued and we THANK you for the kind gesture

Links:

• Facebook
• Website

Hello Mulibwanji?

I hope you are well, I just want to give you a brief report of the project. This is the second term in the 2022-2023 academic year. There was a delay in opening schools due to a worst Cholera outbreak that spread into all the 29 districts of Malawi. In order to create a safe environment for learning, Ministry of Education extended the first term holiday with 2 weeks so that they put in place measures of safeguarding learners from cholera. Due to the delay, ‘Go for girls’ project activities resumed its activities in the month of February.

We conducted reusable sanitary pads sewing training in Chiwamba Community Day Secondary

School, Chipasula Secondary School, Mseche Community Day Secondary School and SASAROMA private secondary school. The trainings were conducted to prevent the girls from using unhygienic sanitary rags that puts them at risk of infection. We managed to train a total of 101 girls in reusable sanitary pads sewing and the girls were excited to gain sewing skills as they will be able to sew more pads for themselves. They are also expected to train more girls so that it has the multiplier effect.

Lastly I just want to say thank you for your continued support that you give to our project and the people of Malawi.

• Full report (PDF)
  

Hello Mulibwanji

Attached is the report for the project for the period of Agust to December. Dont forget to remeber us this december by donating to our project so that we can be able to continue supporting the girls on the schools and also support the delivery of education in schools as that is our main focus. 

In November we managed to train 25 girls in hand sewing the re usable sanitary pads at Minga Secondary school. Our plan is that these girls in the log run will be teach their friends and other students at the school to do the same so that everybody at the school can be able to acquire the sewing sklls.

God bless you for the continued support that you giive to our charity. 

Links:

• Website
• Facebook

• Global giving report (DOCX)

Hello (Mulibwanji)

I hope you are doing fine, I have attached our quarterly report for your review, I hope you will have the time to go through it and see the impact your donation is making here in Malawi. 

On July 20 we are having a fundraising campaign called the July bonus here on GlobalGiving, this is a match funding campaign so any amount you will donate towards our project it will be match funded by GlobalGiving and we see that this is a very good opportunity for us to raise more funds towards our project and we believe you will be apart of it to help us achieve our goals. 

Best regards 

Lameck

Links:

• BFM Website

• GLOBAL_GIVING_REPORT__MARCHMAY.docx (DOCX)

Hello, Mulibwanji?

Go for girls project continues to retain girls in school by providing them with hygienic sanitary pads and moral support. Amidst the pandemic, we have seen many girls been encouraged and supported through activities that were put in place through Go for Girls project.      

GIRL TALK

A focus group discussion with female students. During these discussions we tackle different issues such as HIV related issues, carrier guidance and early marriages which is on a drastic rise in the country. Students are also given a chance to ask questions and speak out issues that stresses them.

In the month of November leaners were writing examinations and conducting activities during this time became impossible to avoid interrupting on their studies as well as writing examinations. However, managed to mobilize primary school girls at Kaps Model School before they closed school for the end of year holiday.

ASSISTING SCHOOL GIRLS AT KAPS WITH SANITARY PADS

Go for girls project assist schoolgirls at Kaps Model Schools with Sanitary pads as others do come to school not well prepared for their menses. Our office is located within the school premises, so we take control of that. There is no need for them to go back home because their monthly period has started. We provide sanitary pads to the girls and let them continue to attend classes, this is One of the main goals of the project- attaining girls in school.

CHALLENGES

We only have two sewing machines which are not enough for all the 8 schools where we implement our project. Our plan is to have a sewing machine in each school so that they can be producing their own sanitary reusable pads.

Another challenge is transportation since the targeted schools are in rural areas. Visiting them frequently has never been possible due to lack of resources to carter for that.

CONCLUSION

We would like to thank you so much for your endless support to Building Futures in Malawi. Your support has fostered implementation of the project. You have changed lives for some Malawian girls and we hope to see the girls successful in future. Go for girls’ project will continue with its activities and we hope to reach as many girls as possible.

Links:

• BFM Website