End Period Poverty: Help Keep 2000 Girls in School

1. Project Overview

As 2025 concludes, our project continues its mission to empower school-going girls in Kisii County by breaking barriers linked to inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities. This quarter, we focused on consolidating gains, expanding infrastructure, and strengthening community partnerships to ensure lasting change. Our holistic approach—combining sanitary ware distribution, hygiene education, and infrastructure improvement—has directly contributed to reduced absenteeism, improved academic engagement, and renewed hope for girls in underserved communities.

2. Progress Summary (October – December 2025)

Funds Raised in Q4: USD 1,500
Total Funds Raised in 2025: USD 3,500

Girls Sponsored in Q4: 10
Total Girls Sponsored in 2025: 30

Activities Completed in Q4:

• Sanitary Ware & Hygiene Kits Distributed: Provided 10 girls with sustainable menstrual hygiene kits (reusable pads, soap, and containers) and conducted follow-up training on proper use and maintenance.

• Completion of First Gender-Segregated Toilet Block: Partnered with county officials and a local contractor to complete a 6-door toilet facility at Kerongo Primary School, benefiting 200+ girls with safe, private sanitation.

• Community & Parental Engagement Workshop: Hosted a one-day workshop for 40 parents and teachers to address cultural barriers, menstrual health myths, and the importance of supporting girls’ education.

• Health Education Expansion: Integrated WASH and Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) education into after-school girls’ clubs at two partner schools, reaching 60 additional students indirectly.

• Partnership Strengthening: Formalized a collaboration with Kisii County Department of Health for quarterly health talks and monitoring of sanitation facilities in project schools.

3. Annual Impact Summary (2025)

• 100% of sponsored girls reported reduced absenteeism during their menstrual cycles.

• Teachers noted improved concentration in class, particularly in STEM subjects.

• The new toilet block at Kerongo Primary has become a model for safe, girl-friendly infrastructure in the county, attracting interest from neighboring schools.

• Parental support has grown visibly, with fathers and mothers jointly advocating for better sanitation in school management meetings.

4. Challenges

• Funding vs. Demand: Despite raising $3,500 annually, the need continues to outpace resources—over 100 girls across 4 schools still lack consistent access to sanitary products and safe facilities.

• Infrastructure Costs: Building durable, gender-sensitive sanitation facilities is capital-intensive, limiting the speed of scaling.

• Sustainability of Kits: Ensuring a steady supply of reusable pads and hygiene materials requires ongoing funding and local supply chain solutions.

• Deep-Seated Stigma: In some remote areas, myths around menstruation persist, calling for longer-term behavioral change campaigns.

5. Next Steps for Q1 2026

1. Expand Infrastructure Project: Begin construction of a second toilet block at Nyanturago Primary School, targeting completion by end of Q2 2026.

2. Launch "Adopt-a-Girl" Campaign: Create a local sponsorship program to encourage sustained individual and corporate support for girls’ sanitary kits.

3. Teacher Training Program: Develop a WASH-focused training module for teachers to become hygiene champions within their schools.

4. Impact Assessment: Conduct a detailed survey to track absenteeism rates and academic performance changes among beneficiaries over the last year.

6. Long-Term Vision

By the end of 2026, we aim to:

• Directly support 100 girls with sanitary kits and hygiene education.

• Construct 3 gender-segregated toilet blocks in high-need schools.

• Establish a community-led WASH committee in each partner school to maintain facilities and advocate for girls’ needs.

• Document and share our model with the Kisii County Government for potential integration into public school improvement plans.

7. Gratitude & Call to Action

We extend our deepest gratitude to every donor, volunteer, teacher, and community leader who has made 2025 a year of tangible change. Because of you, 30 girls have regained their dignity and are staying in school with confidence.

Our work is far from over. To reach more girls and build more facilities, we need your continued partnership. Together, we can turn sanitation from a barrier into a bridge—for education, equality, and empowerment.

Thank you for believing in a future where no girl misses school because she is a girl.