Girl's Health Day!

“According to UNICEF, 1 in 10 school-age African girls, ‘do not attend school during menstruation, or drop out at puberty because of the lack of clean and private sanitation facilities in schools’.”

“In Kenya, 65% of girls 18 years old and younger have dropped out of school.”-ZanaAfrica

As an educated American woman, it is hard to imagine dropping out of school because I have missed so much of it purely due to the fact that I was menstruating.  These statistics are overwhelming, but they are completely true, especially in rural areas of poor developing countries, such as my small village here in Chebukaka. It is a United Nations Millennium Development Goal to help reduce these staggering numbers, but how can I as a Peace Corps Volunteer help?

A program that many health (and education) volunteers have undertaken here in Kenya is one of reusable sanitary pads. These easily constructed and inexpensive items are a direct way to decrease the amount of school that a girl misses each month. The reusable sanitary pad costs approximately 0.50 cents to create, which equivocates to about 40-50 Kenyan shillings. However, if the girl would have to purchase the Always brand pads (which is pretty much the only thing available here) it would cost around 80 shillings. This figure multiplied by the 12 months of the year comes about to be 960 Ksh per year. When girls come from families where the average income is 300 shillings per month, as it is in my area, this figure is nearly impossible to come up with. If a girl were to make 2 or even 3 reusable sanitary pads, this would cost her only about 120 shillings, and they could last several months. They may not even cost as much if the items necessary were already owned such as scraps of fabric or a sewing needle.

A woman receiving a full education links directly to her health status. A girl who is better educated has the knowledge to take care of herself and her family, and it usually results in having fewer and healthier children. So I decided to do a project that would help the girls in my area on the path to become fully educated women.

Earlier in the year, I applied for a small grant to receive funds for a gender related activity through the volunteer run Gender and Development Committee (GAD) that we have in country. I proposed having a one-day event specifically for girls, which would teach them how to create these sanitary pads, as well as delve into other issues of sanitation and hygiene, and continue with lessons on HIV/AIDS and family planning. I was fortunate enough to receive the grant funds within a very competitive cycle, and at the end of June, I had a Girl’s Health Day at the local primary school, Chebukaka Girl’s Primary School.

As is typical here in Kenya, and anywhere else for that matter, there were hiccups along the way to having the event. Most importantly was the issue of ‘will there be any students?’ because the teacher’s strike was in full force at the time and students were not attending classes. However, thanks to the help of the teachers and headmistress of the school, almost all the students who were invited to attend showed up. (not all on time, but that’s to be expected haha!)

The day ran smoothly with the reusable sanitary pads being our first session of the day! I invited volunteers who are in my area to assist me, and it would not have been the great success it was without them. Breezie and Lori took charge on teaching exactly how to make the pad, and myself, Brittnee, Joy and Andrea all came in and helped different groups create their pads.

 Myself with one of the groups and their finished products!

 Working hard!

We moved on to a lesson in water treatment, which is extremely important, because diarrheal diseases and typhoid are severe, but common health threats in the area. This was followed by a session on hand washing and hygiene, and everyone lined up to wash their hands before having lunch!

 Britt, myself and a few student volunteers going over proper handwashing!

 

Britt discussing how and why you should treat your drinking water!

 Breezie and Targes helping out with handwashing before lunch!

After the meal, Joy facilitated a lesson on HIV/AIDS, specifically discussing the myths and facts, and then we were all able to answer any questions they had in regards to the disease as a group. We discussed family planning, and then had a short talk on the importance of staying in school and how education will empower them as females. 

 

HIV/AIDS Myths and Facts exercise!  

 Discussing family planning and women's empowerment with the girls!

At the end of the day, the students graciously thanked us for being there and teaching, and we were invited to return whenever possible by the administration of the school. The girl’s were then off to play football and enjoy the rest of their Saturday! 

 Myself with the girls, some teachers and a few CHW's!

 My fellow volunteers with the crew! Thanks guys!

I think that the day was a great success and could not have wished it to go any smoother than it had. I am so thankful to the GAD Committee who’s grant gave me the funds to purchase the materials necessary to create the sanitary pads for fifty girls, and to all those who helped me put on the day, ASANTE SANA!

Women should have the same chance at an education and a future as men. By creating a sanitary and inexpensive way to deal with menstruation, hopefully we will have helped at least some girls remain in school.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”- Nelson Mandela

As always, I leave you with a little love and sunshine from Kenya =)