On International Day of Rural Women, we’d like to give huge thanks to the many women in rural Kenya, in particular Asha, Jackline and Josephine from Kakmega, who work very hard to make the period pads that are given to schoolgirls for free.
All the women want to help girls stay in school and avoid teenage pregnancies. Josephine says “I’m a young mother who went through this – I dropped out of school early and I’m proud of this project.’
These women have learned new useful sewing skills and Asha says ‘ I did not know how to produce pads so I started to learn how to sew…. and I’m now a trainer for other women who join us in making pads’.
All the women and local girls have benefited and Jackline says ‘Personally, I have benefited from the project because my daughters have received free period pads without paying for them’.
Rural women make significant contributions to their local communities and yet they are disproportionately affected by lack of access to basic services such as education, health, water and sanitation. It’s vital that these women gain equality so that not only they but whole communities are empowered. We are hugely grateful to Asha, Jackline, Josephine and all the women who help make pads for girls.