Helping Rwandan Children out of Poverty

Girls Hygiene Programme

Our target of constructing a Girls Hygiene Unit at each of our none partner schools in Bugarama has now been achieved. In addition we have supplied five schools with water tanks to ensure better water supply and funded a two-day training workshop for school matrons during the Easter holiday.

Last year’s Ubumwe Evaluation study provided strong evidence of the impact of this scheme. Here is an extract from the report:

Across all nine Ubumwe schools, matrons emerged as quiet yet powerful agents of change, serving as mentors, counsellors, and protectors of girls’ dignity. Their testimonies reveal that before the Ubumwe Project, menstruation was one of the most common causes of absenteeism and dropout among adolescent girls. Many came from families unable to afford sanitary pads or soap, and some were mocked or ashamed when menstruation started unexpectedly. “Before, a girl would hide at home for a week,” one matron recalled. “Now she walks proudly to the girls’ room, cleans herself, and goes back to class.”

The construction of girls’ rooms, safe, private, and well-equipped spaces stocked with dignity kits containing reusable pads, soap, towels, and underwear, has been among the project’s most transformative achievements. Matrons in schools such as GS Kibangira, St Paul Muko, and GS Pera described how these facilities have “given girls back their confidence.” Attendance and academic participation have improved markedly, and teachers now observe girls “sitting in front, answering questions, and leading clubs.” In several schools, girls who previously dropped out have re-enrolled and now mentor their peers.

Beyond hygiene, matrons provide daily counselling and emotional support. Most attend to 5–10 girls per day for issues ranging from cramps and fear of menstruation to family conflict, trauma, or abuse. Some receive girls from homes affected by prostitution or violence, patiently guiding them toward self-esteem and safe behaviour. “We counsel with a mother’s heart,” one said.

Matrons also described strong partnerships among teachers, parents, churches, and local authorities. Together, they have reintegrated children from the streets, trained parents through PTA meetings, and maintained school gardens and livestock that provide food for vulnerable learners. “We no longer hide these girls; we help them, and the community helps too,” a matron at Ryankana explained.

What stands out most in their voices is the pride of purpose. Matrons see themselves as guardians of girls’ dignity, the bridge between school and home.