Without the proper supplies or private latrines to manage their periods, many girls in Uganda miss up to eight days of school each school term when they are going through menstruation. This regular absenteeism is one of the biggest contributing factors to girls dropping out of schools. Only 22% of girls are enrolled in secondary education compared with 91% enrolled in primary schools.

In 2019, we focused many of our resources on trying to address this issue.

Here’s what we were able to accomplish with your support:

• 712 girls were trained at 11 schools in how to make reusable pads

• 6 menstrual hygiene rooms were built and supplied with pads, clean underwear, a spare school uniform and basic painkillers, to give girls what they need to manage their periods safely and privately.

• We greatly lowered the drop-out rate among girls at our partner schools.

We know that for every year a girl spends in school, she raises her family income by up to 20%. Increased income often equates to increased health, opportunity and long-term prosperity for the entire family. Education changes everything and we are grateful for your support in these projects.

Learn more about our work with women and girls.