Across Sub-Saharan Africa, period poverty affects 1 in 10 girls, with many unable to access and afford menstrual hygiene products forcing many girls to miss 20-30% of scheduled school days (UNESCO, 2014). The onset of menstruation also often brings not only physical changes but also social challenges, with girls facing stigma, harassment, and exclusion during menstruation. Without access to proper sanitary products, they resort to unsafe and undignified alternatives such as old pieces of cloth or blankets, which can lead to infections and discomfort. Moreover, inadequate sanitation facilities in schools exacerbate these issues, creating barriers to education and personal development. In Mandera County, this reality is compounded by deeply rooted cultural taboos surrounding menstruation, inadequate water supply, and lack of privacy in latrines makes managing menstruation even more challenging.
Recognizing these challenges, Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development (NAPAD) launched an end period poverty campaign to raise funds to provide menstrual hygiene kits to 3,000 vulnerable adolescent girls in Mandera county, Kenya. It also includes education on menstrual hygiene management by conducting training sessions for girls, as well as providing accurate, culturally sensitive information to dispel myths and stigma surrounding menstruation.
Through giving platforms such as GlobalGiving and M-Changa, we’ve so far raised KES 27,000, and provided dignity kits to 15 girls in Border Point 1 primary school. Shamsa Mohamed, is one of the girls who have received a menstrual hygiene kit through this project.
— Shamsa Mohamed, Grade 9 student, Mandera County
Through improved access to menstrual hygiene products, this project aims to improve school attendance and retention rates among girls and also reduce the stigma and isolation experienced by menstruating girls, creating a sense of dignity and empowerment. Moreover, access to sanitary products also promotes health and hygiene, reducing health risks and infections.
However, a significant funding gap remains, emphasizing the need for stronger donor engagement to close this gap.
You can be part of this transformation.
We are calling on our community of supporters to join us in this effort to support vulnerable girls in Mandera county, Kenya have dignified access to menstrual hygiene products and the right knowledge on menstrual hygiene management. Your donation can improve the life of a girl like Shamsa. Click to Support our campaign to end period poverty in Mandera today.
We thank you for your continued support and partnership in this work.
NAPAD’s digital fundraising initiatives are an outcome of the Sustainability Model Programme (SMP), implemented in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (Danida). These efforts align with Outcome One of the programme, which focuses on strengthening organizational resilience.