By Bukenya Muusa | Project Leader
Mary, a 14-year-old student at Acet Primary School, used to dread the end of each month. Like 860 other girls in our recent distribution program, she faced a challenge that kept her from attending school regularly: lack of access to sanitary pads.
Before our program reached her community, Mary would miss 3-5 days of school every month. She would sit at home, isolated and worried about falling behind in her studies, simply because her family couldn't afford menstrual products. She tried using old clothes, but the fear of embarrassment kept her away from the classroom.
Everything changed when our sanitary pads distribution program arrived
Mary was among the 860 girls who received a three-month supply of quality sanitary pads. But the program offered something even more valuable than the products it provided: education, dignity, and a supportive community.
For the first time, Mary learned about menstrual health in a safe, open environment. Even more remarkably, 201 boys from her school participated in education sessions that helped them understand menstruation as a natural biological process, not something to be mocked or hidden.
"At first, the boys would laugh and make jokes when someone stained their uniform," Mary recalls. "But after the education sessions, everything shifted. They started treating us with respect. Some even help carry our books when they know it's 'that time of the month.'’
Today, Mary hasn't missed a single day of school in three months. Her grades have improved, her confidence has soared, and she's become an advocate among her peers, encouraging other girls to attend the education sessions and never let menstruation hold them back.
"Before, I felt like my period was a punishment. I was ashamed. But now I know it's natural, and I have what I need to manage it with dignity. The boys in my class understand that they don't tease us anymore. I feel free to learn, to participate, just to be a student. This program didn't give me just pads; it gave me my future back." Mary, Age 14, Program Beneficiary
Mary's story is one of 560. And with 201 boys now allies in menstrual health awareness, the culture of her entire school has shifted toward empathy and understanding.
Mary's Hope for the Future
When asked what she dreams of becoming, Mary's eyes light up. "I want to be a nurse," she says. "I want to help other girls like me girls who feel alone and ashamed. I want them to know there's nothing wrong with them. They're perfectly normal, and their dreams matter."
Mary's journey from missing school to dreaming big is exactly why this work matters.
Mary's transformation was possible because of donors and advocates who believe that menstruation should never be a barrier to education. But thousands of girls like Mary are still waiting for help.
A gift of just $15 provides a girl with sanitary pads and health education for an entire school year.
Help us reach new communities with comprehensive menstrual health programs.
Every girl deserves to attend school with confidence. Every boy deserves an education that builds empathy. Every young person deserves dignity.
Thank you!
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By Muusa Bukenya | Project Leader
By Muusa Bukenya | Project Leader
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