A lion’s share of young females, especially in the developing world are devoid of the crucial life necessity of pads in a bid to have good menstrual hygiene.
In Nakasongola, there is a beam of optimism with the incredible deeds of Hope Organization, a charity institution co-founded by Jackline Kisakye.
Humble background:
In July 2020, this journey started with 8 beneficiaries in one village (Kyeyindula).
By March 2021, over 1,000 young women in over 20 villages of Nakasongola and Wakiso had been reached.
“During our research and field engagements with different girls from different schools like Kakooge Secondary School, Namika Church of Uganda Primary School, Ekitangaala Transformational High School and so forth in our home district that’s Nakasongola (Uganda), the results were alarming when we found out that many girls miss school during these special days of a woman, others have dropped out of school for they can’t access and afford the sanitary towels due to high poverty levels amongst their caretakers, this has resulted into engagements in sexual relationships in search for money to buy the pads hence early pregnancies” Kisakye notes in a brief background.
The organization is manufacturing sanitary pads; tagged Shine Reusable pads, among other useful items.
“The most disgracing bit is in some societies during the menstrual period girls have been isolated to gardens/ plantations to spend the whole day, come back home in the evening and the story continues until she gets clean again this has affected their level of self-esteem, more so many girls have used un healthy and unrealistic tools during their periods, that’s to say, dry banana leaves, toilet paper, old rugs that are not made out of favorable material like cotton , hence a risk to their health and wellbeing resulting into increased school dropouts due to failure to handle and manage their menstrual periods healthily. It’s On this background that shine reusable pads got birthed to make the girl child days’ shine.” She adds.
Objectives:
Ranking among the numerous objectives of Hope Organization is to improve menstrual hygiene in teenage mother and vulnerable girls, empower girls with skills to make reusable pads, reduce girl child school drop outs and promotion of girl child education in Nakasongola communities.
Tasks at hand:
The Shine reusable pads guarantee comfort to girls while in their ‘red’ days.
There are two reusable pads provided to vulnerable girls and teenage mothers identified by the local leadership team in the village.
Also, there is menstrual hygiene and health awareness conversations/sensitization on every community outreach, girl mentorship program as well as partnership with various organizations.
Way forward:
Hope Organization aspires to put in place a number of things in the future to come.
These include among others setting up production center for an assured continuous supply of Shine Reusable Pads.
In the coming years, they intend to produce at least 30,000 pads every year and reach to 10,000 vulnerable girls and teenage mothers, country wide, train teenage mothers vocational skills for sustainability, continued sensitization of communities on proper menstrual hygiene and staying in school and ensuring its registration for legal authorization.
Applause:
Hope Organization sings praise to the local leadership mainly the “Nabakyalas” that wholesomely welcomed them to their areas to make an impact.
Also, FOWODE (Forum for women in democracy) takes the due credit as well as Cornerstone Development Africa, the Chats Project and everyone who believed in the project and supported in any way possible.
