Her Hygiene, Her Education, Her Future

                                                           Confidence restored, learning uninterrupted

Every month, hundreds of adolescent girls in Gisagara District, Nyanza Sector faced the same silent dilemma; attend school without adequate menstrual protection and risk embarrassment, or stay home and miss valuable learning opportunities. For many vulnerable families, this was never a matter of choice; it was a consequence of poverty. What should have been a normal stage of adolescence had quietly become one of the greatest barriers to girls' education.

Unable to afford sanitary pads, many girls missed three to four days of school every month during their menstrual period. These repeated absences gradually affected their academic performance, reduced classroom participation, and slowly eroded their confidence. Behind every missed lesson was a determined girl fighting to remain in school, a parent struggling to provide basic necessities, and teachers watching promising students fall behind because of circumstances beyond their control.

Recognising that no girl should have to choose between managing her menstrual health and pursuing her education, and with generous support from De Brug, Friends of Motherland Initiative "Ubumuntu" launched the Stay in School: Her Hygiene Matters project across nine schools in Nyanza Sector. The project supported 450 girls from vulnerable families with reusable sanitary pad kits while engaging parents, teachers, and communities in menstrual health education, helping transform menstruation from a hidden barrier into an opportunity for girls to remain in school with dignity.

                                                            Empowering girls to stay in school with dignity

For many girls, this support marked the beginning of a new chapter. One of them is Niyomubyeyi Clementine, a Senior Three student at ES Higiro, who said:

A voice of hope, confidence, and resilience. NIYOMUBYEYI Clementine, A Senior Three student at ES Higiro

"Before receiving the reusable sanitary pads, I was always worried that I might stain my clothes while at school. Because of that fear, I often stayed home during my menstrual period, missing three to four days of classes every month. This affected my academic performance. Today, I attend school with confidence, participate fully in class, and perform better in my studies. I sincerely thank FMI 'Ubumuntu' and De Brug for believing in girls like us and helping us stay in school."

For Clementine, the reusable sanitary pads restored much more than school attendance; they restored confidence, dignity, and hope. Her story is echoed by many other girls. Among them is Gisele, a Senior Five student at GS Gisunzu, shared

                                                                  Gisele, a Senior Five student at G.S Gisunzu

"Receiving reusable sanitary pads has given me much more than menstrual hygiene support. It has restored my confidence, protected my dignity, and allowed me to focus on my education without fear or interruption. Today, I know that my future should never be limited by something as natural as menstruation. I am deeply grateful to FMI 'Ubumuntu' and De Brug for investing in our education and giving girls like me the confidence to dream bigger."

The transformation has not gone unnoticed. Teachers who once worried about repeated absenteeism now see girls participating confidently in classrooms, asking questions, completing assignments, and pursuing their education with renewed determination.

                                                     Teachers creating safe and supportive learning environments

                                                     Jean D'Amour Iradukunda, Head Master at EP Akayange, shared:

School leadership championing girl’s right to learn. Jean D’Amour IRADUKUNDA, Head Master at EP Akayange

"Before this intervention, many girls from vulnerable families regularly missed school because they could not afford menstrual hygiene products. We witnessed the consequences in their attendance, participation, and academic performance. Today, the difference is remarkable. Girls come to school with confidence, actively engage in learning, and perform better academically. This project has not only improved school attendance but has restored hope and dignity to many young girls."

The project's impact extends far beyond school gates. For many parents, the awareness sessions challenged long-held misconceptions surrounding menstruation and helped them recognise their own role in supporting their daughters. One parent shared:

                                                                Parents embracing their role in girls’education

"As a parent, I used to worry whenever my daughter stayed home during her menstrual period because we could not always afford sanitary pads. It affected her education and made her lose confidence. Today, thanks to the reusable sanitary pads and the awareness sessions provided through this project, she attends school consistently, studies with confidence, and talks openly about menstrual health without fear or shame. This project has not only supported our daughters but has also educated us as parents on how to better care for and encourage them."

Perhaps the most remarkable outcome of the project is its sustainability. Each girl received reusable sanitary pads designed to last for up to two years, offering families a practical and affordable long-term solution. More importantly, awareness sessions encouraged parents to view menstrual hygiene not as an occasional expense but as an essential investment in their daughters' education.

                                                      Reusable sanitary pads creating lasting opportunities for girls

Many parents have since committed to saving regularly so they can purchase new reusable sanitary pads every two years, ensuring that their daughters continue learning without interruption long after the project has ended.

                                                             Community Ownership is driving lasting change for girls

To further strengthen the project's sustainability, the leadership of all nine partner schools committed to establishing and actively supporting Her Hygiene Clubs within their schools. These clubs will serve as safe spaces where girls will continue receiving regular education on menstrual hygiene management, reproductive health, and personal well-being. The schools also committed to mobilizing girls into savings groups that will complement parents' efforts by helping members gradually save towards purchasing new reusable sanitary pads when replacement is needed. This commitment reflects a shared determination to ensure that the project's impact extends far beyond the project period by embedding menstrual health education, peer support, and community ownership into everyday school life.

Reflecting on these achievements, Jean Dushime, Program Manager at Friends of Motherland Initiative "Ubumuntu", said:

     Building sustainable solutions for girls’ education. Jean DUSHIME, Program Manager at FMI” Ubumuntu”

"This represents the project's greatest achievement. True and lasting impact is achieved when communities are empowered to sustain change long after a project has ended. Through the Stay in School: Her Hygiene Matters project, our goal was never limited to distributing reusable sanitary pads; it was to remove one of the hidden barriers preventing girls from vulnerable families fully exercising their right to education while building a sustainable solution owned by families, schools, and communities themselves. The most encouraging outcome has been seeing parents commit to saving for pad replacement and schools take ownership through Her Hygiene Clubs and girls' savings groups. When families and schools embrace the solution together, we know the impact will continue long after our intervention. This is the kind of sustainable change that transforms not only girls' lives but entire communities."

Today, the impact of the project can be seen in classrooms filled with confident girls who no longer have to choose between their education and their menstrual health. What began as the distribution of 450 reusable sanitary pad kits has evolved into something much greater a movement that restores dignity, strengthens families, promotes gender equality, and protects girls' right to learn.

                                                                 Every confident girl is a step towards brighter future

The Stay in School: Her Hygiene Matters project has transformed the lives of girls from vulnerable families by removing one of the most significant barriers to their education menstrual hygiene challenges. Through the provision of reusable sanitary pads, menstrual health education, and community engagement, the project has restored girls' dignity, improved school attendance, and strengthened their confidence to learn and thrive. Beyond the immediate impact, it has inspired parents, schools, and communities to take ownership by committing to support girls' menstrual health through family savings, Her Hygiene Clubs, and school-based savings groups, ensuring that the project's benefits will continue long after its implementation. This partnership between Friends of Motherland Initiative "Ubumuntu" and De Brug demonstrates that sustainable investment in girls' education creates lasting change for individuals, families, and communities.

                                                      Empowered girls, stronger communities, brighter futures

FMI "Ubumuntu"

info@friendsofmotherland.org

+250788479207

© Copyright 2024 FMI Ubumuntu - All Rights Reserved.