Empowering Girls, Ending Shame

Summary
Since our last report in September 2025, Buhknom Development Foundation (BDF) has maintained momentum on the Empowering Girls, Ending Shame initiative despite ongoing funding constraints. We continued low-cost community outreach and awareness activities focused on menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in secondary schools and communities in Kogi and Nasarawa states, as well as parts of the Federal Capital Territory. These efforts aim to reduce period-related stigma, absenteeism, and health challenges while promoting dignity and continued education for girls.

ACTIVITIES COMPLETED
Awareness Sessions: Conducted small-scale community and faith-based awareness sessions reaching approximately 120 girls and caregivers using volunteers and local partners. Topics included menstrual hygiene education, reusable pad usage, and breaking stigma.

Educational Materials Distribution: Shared basic menstrual health information booklets and low-cost hygiene tips with over 80 secondary school girls.

Advocacy and Partnerships: Engaged with local churches, community leaders, and a few schools to promote open discussions on menstrual health and identify girls in need.

Follow-up Support: Provided basic reusable pad samples (sourced through small donations) to a small group of 25 girls as demonstration and immediate relief.

IMPACT
Even with limited resources, these activities helped reduce shame and increase knowledge among participants. Girls reported feeling more confident discussing menstrual health and missing fewer school days. One participant shared: “I no longer feel ashamed during my period. The education and sample pad have helped me attend school regularly.” These modest efforts are laying the foundation for larger-scale distribution of reusable pads and workshops once additional funding is secured.

CHALLENGES
The main obstacle remains insufficient funding, which has delayed full implementation of workshops, large-scale reusable pad distribution, and reaching the target of 5,000 girls. Transportation and production costs for quality reusable pads also pose challenges in scaling up.

NEXT STEPS
Intensify volunteer-led awareness campaigns and school partnerships in Kogi and Nasarawa states.
Mobilize resources for producing/procuring reusable pads and conducting full workshops for at least 200–300 girls in the next quarter.
Strengthen partnerships with local organizations and intensify fundraising to unlock larger impact.
Document more beneficiary stories and conduct simple feedback sessions to measure progress.

THANK YOU
We are deeply grateful to GlobalGiving and the few generous donors who have supported this cause so far. Your contributions are helping to restore dignity, improve health, and keep girls in school. With continued support, we can expand this vital work and truly end period shame for thousands of girls. We look forward to sharing greater progress in our next report.