Launch 150 Startup Youth Businesses in Kibra Slum

"What do you do when you cannot access Menstrual Products?" I asked. "We use chicken feathers, sit on sand the whole day or use pieces of clothes" One lady answered. "Do you know anything about Menstruation?"  I continued, "We are not allowed to talk about that" anothe lady replied.

This conversation came when were visiting a group of ladies in Samburu County. Samburu county is about 500 Kms from Kenya's capital Nairobi. This county is characterized by high level of poverty. Most women and girls cannot access quality education. Being a pastrolist comunity, they move from one place to another during dought to look for pasture and water. 

Just  few weeks ago one girl killed herself becasue of period stigma in Kenya. Mentruation is a topic that is never disussed in such commuties, menstruating women and girls are considered dirty, and they are mainly isolated during menstruation. In counties likes Samburu, men are not  even allowed  talk with women during menstruation. 

We visisted Samburu county to raise awareness on menstrual stigma in addition to supporting women and girls get access to menstrual products. For most women and girls this was their first time talking about  mensrruation openly at least with other people. 

In addition to Menstruation we also supported the children get new pair of shoes and stationery. Some the children have never worn news pair of shoes in their life. 

This is the impact your support is creating in poor communities in Kenya. 

Consider supporting more women and girls stay in school. 

The class is full of students. From their faces you can guess that they have been eagerly waiting for this day. The students are between 13 and 17 years, from the back you can hear them giggling and whispering, probably happy that the visitors have arrived.

The teacher tells me there are 100 students. “Great, that is manageable,” I reply with a hesitant voice. From the front I could notice a few boys. They are visibly uncomfortable. It is clear that they do not know why they are there in the first place. I do not want to judge, so I tell my team to continue with the session. From the window I can see more students peeping, perhaps an indication that they want to be part of this session. One of my colleagues starts talking about puberty asking a few questions. The reality hit me in 2014, when my friends and I visited a local orphanage, one girl approached me for Ksh 50 (50 cents). At first I was very hesitant, but she insisted. I gave her. She disappeared for about 10 minutes and came back. I asked my female colleagues to inquire what the money was for. It turned out that someone she trusted was asking for sex in exchange for sanitary towels. My heart sunk. I was angry at the situation and I vowed to support women and girls get access to menstrual products since then. Some 1.2 billion women and girls globally lack access to feminine hygiene products (Menstrual Products). 

The past 3 months, Garden of Hope Foundation through your generous supported has supported 1,500 women and girls get access to menstrual hygiene products. WE have seen the number of school dropout out decrease, self-confidence of women and girls increase and the classes are full.