Reusable pads to Keep 100 Ugandan Girls in School

Mafabi Apostolic Ministries International (MAMI) 

GlobalGiving project progress report 

Reusable Pads to Keep 100 Vulnerable Girls in School 

Reporting Period: 2025–2026 

Theme "No girl should have to choose between her education and her dignity." 

Introduction

Every month, countless schoolgirls face a challenge that often goes unnoticed, yet it has a significant impact on their education, confidence, health, and future. For many vulnerable girls in Uganda, menstruation isn't just a natural process; it becomes a barrier to their education and future. 

At Future Stars Preparatory Nursery and Primary School, many of these girls come from extremely vulnerable backgrounds, including families led by single mothers, grandparents, and even children themselves. For them, buying sanitary pads is often an unaffordable luxury, consequently, many miss school during their menstrual periods, fall behind in their academic performance, lose confidence, and, in some cases, drop out of school entirely. 

To tackle this pressing issue, Mafabi Apostolic Ministries International (MAMI) initiated the reusable pads to Keep 100 Vulnerable Girls in school project through the GlobalGiving platform. This project aims to restore dignity, enhance menstrual hygiene, reduce absenteeism, and ensure that girls stay in school to reach their full potential. 

The challenge

Menstrual hygien is a hidden yet significant contributor to gender inequality in education, without access to safe and affordable menstrual hygiene products, many girls: 

• Miss several days of school each month. 

• Experience embarrassment, fear, and anxiety during their periods. 

• Suffer from a loss of confidence and self-esteem. 

• Struggle academically due to frequent absences. 

• Face a higher risk of permanently dropping out of school. 

• Become more susceptible to early marriage, exploitation, and poverty. 

Education should never be interrupted just because a girl starts menstruating, yet for many families living in poverty, sanitary products are a luxury they simply cannot afford.

Project Goal 

Our mission is to keep 100 vulnerable girls in school by offering sustainable menstrual hygiene solutions through: 

• Crafting locally made reusable sanitary pads. 

• Training girls to become peer ambassadors in menstrual health and hygiene. 

• Encouraging local skills and entrepreneurship. 

• Setting up a sustainable school-based initiative for producing reusable pads. 

• Fostering a supportive and dignified learning environment for adolescent girls. 

But this project is about more than just providing reusable pads; it’s about empowering girls with knowledge, confidence, leadership skills, and the ability to be self-reliant for life. 

Fundraising Progress 

We kicked off this project on GlobalGiving with a fundraising goal of USD 10,000. 

Here’s where we currently stand: 

• Fundraising Target: USD 10,000 

• Funds Raised: USD 2 

• Funding Gap: USD 9,998 

• Progress Achieved: 0.02% 

While the financial response has been modest, we are truly thankful to every individual, family, and friend who has contributed. Every donation, no matter how small, symbolizes hope for girls who deserve the chance to stay in school. 

Progress achieved 

Even with limited funding, we have made some significant strides. 

The funds we have were used to: 

• Source sample reusable sanitary pads from nearby schools. 

• Conduct practical demonstrations for the girls. 

• Start mentoring selected girl ambassadors on how to produce reusable pads and manage menstrual hygiene. 

• Lay the groundwork for a future school-based reusable pad initiative. 

These initial activities have sparked strong interest among the learners and highlighted the urgent need for this project. 

Challenges 

Sadly, we still have a long way to go to meet the core objectives of the project due to insufficient funding. 

Here are some critical activities that are still waiting to be implemented: 

• Procuring locally available materials for producing reusable pads. 
• Training girl ambassadors and teachers in the making reusable pads locally. 
• Setting up safe changing and washing facilities within the school. 
• Providing emergency supplies for girls in need. 
• Produce enough reusable pads for all 100 girls our target.
• Expanding  our menstrual health education and peer support programs.

Unfortunately, many girls are still grappling with the same issues that sparked this project in the first place. Each month, some girls miss out on valuable classroom time simply because they don’t have access to safe menstrual hygiene products.

Why this project matters now

Investing in menstrual hygiene goes beyond just handing out sanitary pads. It’s about:

• Keeping girls in school.
• Promoting gender equality.
• Protecting the dignity of girls.
• Boosting academic performance among girl child
• Building girls' confidence and leadership skills.
• Cutting down on school absenteeism among girl child
• Supporting healthier futures for vulnerable children particularly girl child
• Breaking the cycle of poverty through education.

When a girl stays in school, it’s a win for her family, community, nation and entire world, education can change lives, but only if girls can stay in the classroom longer.

Call to action

Today, we warmly invite the GlobalGiving community, development partners, philanthropic organizations, corporate partners, friends, families, and kind-hearted individuals around the globe to stand with these girls. We need an additional USD 9,998 to fully implement this project and provide sustainable menstrual hygiene support to 100 vulnerable girls.

Your support will enable us to:

• Produce reusable sanitary pads locally.
• Train girls in how to make reusable pads and understand menstrual health.
• Set up safe changing facilities.
• Reduce school absenteeism.
• Enhance girls' confidence and overall wellbeing.
• Protect vulnerable girls from preventable school dropouts.
• Promote dignity, equality, and educational opportunities.

Every contribution, no matter how big or small, brings us one step closer to ensuring that no girl has to miss school because of her period.

Looking ahead 

We are filled with hope that the kindness of GlobalGiving donors and friends from all corners of the globe will help us turn this vision into a reality. With your support, this project can serve as a shining example of community-driven menstrual hygiene management that empowers girls, builds local skills, creates sustainable solutions, and keeps vulnerable children in school. 

Together, we can swap fear for confidence, absenteeism for opportunity, and silence for hope. 

Conclusion 

The need has never been more urgent, while we have only raised USD 2 so far, our dedication to safeguarding girls' education is as strong as ever. Behind every statistic is a young girl bursting with dreams, talents, and aspirations that deserve to thrive. 

Menstruation should never stand in the way of a child’s education, by supporting this project, you are funding reusable sanitary pads; investing in dignity, education, gender equality, healthier futures, and the next generation of women leaders. 

Let’s work together to ensure that every girl can stay in school, learn with confidence, and reach her full potential. Take home message to the family of GlobalGiving

One reusable pad can transform a school day. 

One educated girl can uplift a family. 

One generation of empowered girls can reshape a nation. 

Prepared by 

Mafabi Apostolic Ministries International (MAMI) 

In collaboration with GlobalGiving and compassionate supporters dedicated to ensuring that every girl has the chance to learn, thrive, and succeed.