Donate sanitary pads to 8400 schoolgirls in Uganda

In Uganda due to economic differences, provision on most of the best needs/services remains a challenge especially to school going children (girls). Due to parents’ priorities and limited abilities to meet basic needs, sanitary materials tend to be ignored not that they don’t matter but because they are unable to afford them each month. This affects school going girls in their transition stages because its a must go in process. When girls are not fully prepared for menstrual stage, they are affected negatively in both production and school performance, their attendance in class reduces,reduces classroom participation, low self-esteem, confidence and domestic work and as a result some drop out and attain little activeness in daily skills ending up in early marriages and non performers.

Due to our (UYSTO) interventions and engagements with school going girls in general, menstruation has been managed with dignity. Access to menstrual hygiene products is not only a health issue but a general phycological issue, and by enabling them access sanitary materials, it has increased their activeness holistically. Our intervention has enabled thousands of girls to continue learning, participate fully in school life, and to pursue their educational goals with confidence as well active participation.

The intervention that UYSTO offers, is rely real and it does not only address just sanitary distribution as an issue but the entire component of period poverty

During our field activities, we always be practical and while sharing different varieties of menstrual products and knowledge, case studies immerge and below we heard from Sheila (not her real name)

Sheilla “which sanitary materials are these? me am used to small clothes that my mother gave me to be using during my menstrual periods”. There still exists menstrual knowledge gap especially among the girls from vulnerable families to an extent some school going children have had an access to some decent sanitary materials.

Peter still not his real name, “mentioned but where does UYSTO get these sanitary materials they give to the girls at our school from, anyway whichever case, we are happy for all those who support us with sanitary pads for our sisters” My fellow boys in class have become more supportive to the girls during this period (Peter narrates). The boys reported to have also shared the gained knowledge to their sisters, friends, neighbours and other community members how best these sanitary materials are used and when. UYSTO field officer, thanked GlobalGiving and the individual donors who make possible UYSTO to support the girls stay in school, and boldly told the children that everything come GlobalGiving.

Feedback from administration schools we support.

Distribution of sanitary materials and general education has not only improved menstrual hygiene and knowledge but also improved the participation of our girls in school activities, increased performance, confidence, reduced on stigma. The best performer last and this year in Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) was from female students something that has not be common previously and this has been due to boasting of female participation and proper management of menstruation, which was a key barrier to their full participation in major school events. As a result, girls have also been empowered to take on leadership roles since they feel empowered and confidence to act as agency of change to menstrual hygiene management. I wish this kind of support also reach more young people in schools and to those girls who the same challenges elsewhere.

We therefore extend sincere appreciation to whoever ensures this happen, may your cups never run dry, and to UYSTO who always consider our girls to ensure they are in school and are maintained through the menstrual hygiene management and sanitary distribution support, the school gate is always open to any kind of uplift especially to our girls.