Introduction

A Menstrual period is a normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of a woman's monthly cycle. Many girls and women in remote areas find it hard to access sanitary ware because buying this essential product that is a basic need for a woman on a monthly basis is costly. Most women and girls have resorted to use of old cloth, mattresses, and papers. There is a lot of dangers associated with the old clothes they use for example they are prone to diseases such as Bacterial Vaginosis, Candidiasis which are also expensive to treat. This has led to increased school drop out, engaging in early so as to acquire money to purchase the pads.

GoldHope came up with a vision to keep a girl child in school through providing reuseable sanitary pads. As a sustainable plan we intend to offer skills to these girls on how to make these reuseable pads in order to be self sustainable.

Narrative

As a team from GoldHope ministries, we mobilized friends, Family and ourselves to procure reusable pads which we planned to distribute to the most Vulnerable young girls in Nyenga Subcounty in Buikwe District. The reusable pads have a shelf life of one year, they can be used and washed and kept safe in a cool safe environment.

On the 29th Oct 2022, the team from GoldHope Ministries visited St Anthony Nyenga Girls Primary School with an aim to Keep a Gild in school through educating the girl child on Menstrual Hygiene.

We also believe that we need to involve the boy child through educating them on the menstrual Hygiene and mentor the boy child on how to support the girl child when faced with this challenge in the month. We believe if we don’t engage the boy child at an early stage, we will not win the fight against gender equality, poverty, and global stability among others.

We educated a group of 102 girls who were from Primary Five, Primary six and Primary seven. 50% of the girls received reusable pads and we promised to provide for 50% who didn’t get the pad in next outreach program. First priority distribution of reuseable pads was given to Primary seven girls because they pointed out that periods interrupt them so much especially when they are doing exams.

We educated the girl child the dangers associated after getting menstrual periods forexample early pregnancy, Sexual transmitted diseases such as HIV/Aids among others.

A group of 50 boys was educated on how to keep proper hygiene through cleaning and taking care of their bodies and maintain good hygiene. This is aimed at boosting the boys confidence and empowering them to work hard and stay in school for a brighter future.

We used inspirational figures such as Miss Jinja who these girls look up to. Ms Jinja inspired the young girls and encouraged them to stay in school even through they are in their periods because Education is the key to a brighter future.

Strategy

• We intend to develop sewing skills in these young girls to enable them acquire a skill which will enable them to make the reusable pad by themselves at home. We believe that this knowledge and skill will be passed on to their other siblings hence empowering the whole community.

• We believe that the boy child is key in this program, we intend to mentor them on supporting and protecting the girl child inorder to improve gender equality and male involvement in the society.

Challenges:

• We need Funding to enable us reach as many young girls to educate them on menstrual hygiene and form a stable community. And also empower the boys through soccer games so as to boast their confidence.

• Sewing machines that will provide a skill to the young girls to sew their reuseable pads and also use the sewing skills acquired to sew clothes which will empower them to be self sustainable.

Conclusion:

In order to keep and grow a stable community we believe that as we empower the young girls we also need to engage the boy child as well so as to acquire a balanced gender equality.