By Caroline Kouns | Operations Manager
Through this project, our goal is to distribute 2,500 pairs of underwear to schoolgirls across Kenya. While underwear is often taken for granted, for young girls in vulnerable communities, it is a critical necessity. Beyond restoring dignity, providing underwear is the essential foundation for using the reusable sanitary pads we distribute, ensuring girls can manage their periods safely, comfortably, and without missing school.
The Reality of Period Poverty in Boarding Schools
During our recent visits, a house mother at one of the orphanages shared a heart-wrenching reality that highlights just how severe the shortage of basic garments is:
"Underwear provided to the teenagers here is often stolen or goes missing when they go off to secondary boarding school. It isn't taken out of malice—it is taken by other girls who have none at all and desperately need them just to hold their sanitary pads in place."
This insight underscores that underwear is not a luxury item; it is a basic necessity in critically short supply. When girls lack undergarments, they cannot use period products, driving home why widespread distribution across local schools and orphanages is so urgent.
Recent Progress: August Milestone in Maseno
In August, we reached a significant milestone toward this year's overall target:
500 pairs of underwear were distributed to schoolgirls residing in local orphanages and attending schools across the Maseno area.
Alongside these garments, girls were equipped with reusable pad sets and basic menstrual health guidance, ensuring an immediate improvement in their daily health and comfort.
By Caroline Kouns | Operations Manager
By Caroline Kouns | Operations Manager
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