Send 400 Kisii Orphans to schools in Kenya

Dear Partners,

The girl child has been disadvantaged over a long period of time in term of provision of her basic needs. Especially during her monthly periods, she loses a lot of time from school to go and change her pads (other options of pads i.e mattresses, pieces of cloths e.t.c) sometimes making the pupils to be absent from school. It is from this background that HWF in  with your generours funds  are providing sanitary towels to the girls-child who are in their teens. Over 180 girls who are in their teens are expected to benefit from this activity in 3 schools within Nyamira County. The teachers and pupils in the schools named below actively participated and involved themselves towards the realization of the importance of sanitary towels to a girl child. Summary of the supplied sanitary towels as per school. School No. to pupils No. to teachers 1. Bigogo 45 girls  2. Bitundugusu 25 girls  3. Emanga 37 girls.

The delivery of sanitary towels was bought from Nairobi and transported to Kisii office whereby they were kept waiting the day of distribution to different schools by use of vehicles. We were warmly welcomed in all the schools. In some of the schools we arrived during class hours and had to disrupt them for some few minutes to distribute the sanitary pads individually to the pupils and take photos too. In some of the schools we arrived at break time while they were participating in their extra mural activities. We went to the headmaster/headmistress of each and every school to give us the mandate to talk to teachers in charge of the distribution of sanitary towels. Then the teachers in charge of the distribution of sanitary towels could go round the classes and tell the girls to assemble in one classroom or hall where we could carry out our talk.

The pupils were so happy for our arrival because they were ready to receive the sanitary pads for their use as usual. They welcomed us and actively participated in the asking of questions on the usage of sanitary pads and also sharing out their problems with others. We taught the pupils on the following; 1. The definition of a sanitary pad 2. The other options that pupils use in form of sanitary pads. I.e. Rags, Folded cloths, Bandages, mattresses, leaves, feathers, goat’s skin e.t.c. 3. We taught them the importance /advantage of sanitary pads. i.e. i. It absorbs menstrual discharge ii. They prevent irritation iii. They prevent leakages. iv. They keep an individual dry, refreshed and comfortable. v. They prevent odour. vi. They are easy to carry either in a bag or purse. 4. Disadvantages of sanitary pads. 1. They are not flushed in toilet. 5. Disadvantages of other options of sanitary pads. I.e. Pieces of cloths, mattresses and rags, leaves, feathers, goat’s skin. i. They cause itchiness and stuffiness ii. They enable one to have unpleasant smell. iii. They can lead to vaginal discharge. iv. They leak due to poor absorption of blood. v. They cause one to a vaginal inflammation. The pupils were taught on how to use the sanitary pads by the use of a pant and a pad by demonstrating to them on how they should use the sanitary pads. We agreed on the next meeting on the distribution of sanitary pads our discussion will be about sex, whereby each and every school could research on sex from their teachers, parents, friends and classmates and even read the books that have taught on sex education. Thanks once agains for your support towards this initiatives.