For thousands of schoolgirls in Kenya, a lack of essential underwear forces them to miss up to four critical days of class every month, severely crippling their education. Underwear is not just a basic necessity; it is vital for securely using reusable sanitary pads. This project aims to restore dignity and learning by providing 5,000 schoolgirls with this essential item.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, 1 in 10 girls misses school during her period. In Kenya, this means 4 lost days monthly, totaling 165 crucial learning days by graduation. Girls who fall behind risk being removed by their families for early marriage. Girls facing poverty are also at risk of sexual exploitation with girls being coerced into sex in exchange for essential menstrual supplies. New underwear is essential for girls in Maseno to use reusable pads and stay in the classroom and secure their future.
Providing new underwear is a direct solution to period poverty in Maseno. Previously, girls were forced to use old rags, newspaper, or leaves to manage their periods, requiring them to stay stationary and at home during their cycle. This essential item makes reusable sanitary pads viable, restoring dignity, promoting hygiene, and eliminating the main barrier to consistent school attendance. Reusable sanitary pads and essential puberty and menstrual health education will be provided.
Consistent school attendance will enable higher academic performance and later economic opportunity. Avoiding a potential 48 missed school days annually lowers the rates of girls falling behind in their education, reducing the risk of early marriage and pregnancy. Crucially, it lowers the risk of sexual exploitation where girls swap sex for essential menstrual supplies. This powerful impact breaks cycles of poverty for the girls and their future families.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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