A training session held at St. Mary’s P/S Grounds in Buwenda, Jinja City, focused on addressing the challenges faced by the girl-child due to inaccessibility to sanitary pads.
According to Ms. Nambi Clare, the Director of Initiative For Girls Empowerment Uganda, the management decided to stage the training in Jinja City due to reports of increased school dropouts among girls caused by the lack of menstrual products.
“This is because many parents distance themselves from such responsibilities, sometimes due to financial difficulties at home, yet this could have been the right time to strengthen the Parent-Child relationship,” she said.
Ms. Clare launched this initiative in 2017 as a way to help keep girls in school, especially those facing challenges such as lack of support and guidance from parents and teachers. Some girls are ridiculed by their classmates during their menstrual period, and without knowing what to do, they feel ashamed, leading to school dropout.
To combat these challenges, the initiative teaches both parents and children how to manage menstruation without disruptions. The program also trains girls on how to make their own reusable pads, helping reduce the cost of buying sanitary products every month. Parents have learned to be more supportive of their daughters, recognizing that failure to do so can leave girls vulnerable to exploitation by older men and boys, potentially leading to early pregnancies and school dropouts.
According to Ms. Clare, the skills taught to girls can also be used as business opportunities. Girls can form groups or work individually to produce reusable sanitary pads, sell them in their communities, and earn an income, especially during school breaks. Trainees were also encouraged to spread the knowledge of reusable pad production to other girls who couldn’t attend the training, ensuring that more girls benefit from this initiative.
However, as the founder, Ms. Clare extended her request to potential sponsors and the government to support the initiative, particularly in rural areas. The initiative currently lacks the necessary machines and materials that could be donated to different communities to facilitate mass production of reusable sanitary pads and the training of community members.
She also appealed to communities to cooperate when approached for training, as they are the primary beneficiaries. Fathers, in particular, were urged to support their daughters financially to enable them to produce pads as they were taught.
The initiative has trained girls in many districts across Busoga, including Kamuli, Jinja, and Iganga, positively impacting over 600 girls and helping them stay in school. It has also acted as a hub for connections, where youths meet during training sessions and form networks, serving as a launchpad for success. One of the beneficiaries, Ms. Mondera Zahara, went on to become the Speaker of the Third Busoga Youth Parliament, thanks to the skills and connections she gained from the initiative.
Ms. Apio Esther, a teacher at Jinja Senior Secondary School and the founder of the Girls for Girls Foundation, shared her experience of supporting the school-going girl-child. She emphasized the need for teachers and schools to create a secure environment for girls.
“As a teacher, I strive to build strong relationships with my students, which helps them feel confident enough to approach me if they face any problems. This approach has been especially beneficial for girls who often forget to track their menstrual cycle and end up experiencing leaks during class,” she explained.
Ms. Esther also teaches young girls to be aware of their bodies and to always carry pads in their bags to be prepared for their periods. Although this can be expensive for families with financial challenges, the initiative addresses this by teaching girls to produce their own sanitary pads at a lower cost.
She called on fellow teachers to be supportive and empathetic toward their students, especially when they need help. “Teachers should make an effort to understand their students, as they come from different backgrounds and may behave differently. Negative discussions about students’ problems should be avoided, as this can erode their trust and confidence in their teachers.”
She also stressed that male teachers should refrain from making inappropriate advances toward students, as such actions can severely damage the futures of young people.
Ms. Nalwanga Beatrice, a parent from Buwenda, Jinja City, advised fellow parents to support their children. “Failure to provide the necessary support may push daughters to seek help from older men, which often comes with risks such as early pregnancies, diseases, and school dropouts. This can all be prevented if we empower our girls to stay in school and take care of their menstrual needs.”
Musenero Violet, a student from Soul Foundation, expressed gratitude to Initiative For Girls Empowerment Uganda for focusing on Jinja City. “As girls, we face a lot of challenges, especially when we lack support from our parents during menstruation. This time can be particularly stressful and uncomfortable, especially during school. Sometimes, girls are ridiculed by boys when they experience menstruation accidents in public, which further embarrasses them,” she said.
Violet believes that learning to make reusable sanitary pads will be a turning point for many girls, helping them stay in school with confidence. “Not only will we be able to make our own pads, but we can also sell them to other girls, providing a source of income,” she concluded.
