Imagine being 14 years old and facing the decision of whether to go without or to exchange sex for money to buy disposable sanitary pads to manage your period. It’s called period poverty, and it’s prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa and other regions around the world. And periods don’t stop for pandemics. Six months ago in Kenya, young girls gathered under a tree told me that they faced this decision. Some of them were holding babies on their laps. Teenage pregnancy rates there increased during the height of the pandemic when girls were not able to be in school; some girls described having no choice in the matter.
Menstrual hygiene management is a critical factor in keeping girls in school, which is in turn directly related to reducing the rate of child marriage and prevention of human trafficking. Education, access to sustainable menstrual hygiene management solutions, and adequate toilet facilities in schools help to change this. The goal of our washable hygiene kit outreach is to end period poverty so girls can continue their education, delay marriage, and reduce their risk of being trafficked.
The 28th of May is Menstrual Hygiene Day so today we celebrate those who invest their resources, time, and money into creating sustainable solutions for girls who would otherwise not have access to them. To every woman who has sewn a kit or bought a washcloth, safety pin, clothespin, or Ziploc bag… to every person who has donated funds to help purchase these items and get the kits into the hands of girls… THANK YOU!!!! Thank you for helping children be able to be children with dignity, empowerment, and freedom!
Today, we also celebrate the girls who have received washable hygiene kits along with health and sexual violence prevention education. We ask you to join us in praying for the girls in these photos, some of whom received Jesus as Savior, as well as the many who are still without a solution.
A washable feminine hygiene kit ($15) lasts up to four years. Imagine how that could positively impact your health, education, and life if you were a teenage girl in Africa! If you would like to support this project by sewing kit components or providing supplies, let us know. If you would like to support financially, click the Donate button and select Hygiene Kit Project as the designation for your donation. Together we can make a difference!
#28MayMenstrualHygieneDay #endperiodpoverty #forthegirls #Jesuslovesthem #bethelight
*Photos were taken in 2020 by Julie Ganey on a Be the Light Outreach in Kenya.