Reducing period poverty in Kenya through local pad production

This month we ran menstrual health and hygiene training at three schools in rural Kenya: Kyamwei, Kikulumi and Kyuluni Comprehensive Schools. The sessions covered managing periods, tracking a cycle and reproductive health, and we then gave reusable Wings Poa kits to 162 girls, 45 at Kyamwei, 58 at Kikulumi and 59 at Kyuluni, so they can stay in class during their periods.

We also ran menstrual health surveys at Mbaani and King’atuani Comprehensive Schools to understand what girls there are dealing with and work out where to go next. That takes us to nine training sessions completed and 19 schools surveyed, with 1,195 girls reached through the surveys and 640 now holding a kit. One of the girls at Kyuluni told us: “Before this training, I did not know how to count my cycles. My period could just come anytime and I had to go home to change. Now I am confident in tracking my cycle.”

The kits are sewn by 12 LitMoms, local women who earn from every batch while building their tailoring skills, and Ann, one of them, said the income helps her support her family’s daily needs. We spent Ksh 95,800 (around £560) this month: Ksh 72,800 to the LitMoms for production, Ksh 10,000 on staff time, Ksh 9,000 on transport to the schools, and the remaining Ksh 4,000 on monitoring and coordinating with schools by phone.

Inter-school games took up much of the term, which cut into the time we had for surveys, training and distribution, so we reached fewer schools and fewer girls than we had planned. With the August holiday approaching, we are sourcing more flannel and waterproof PUL fabric, keeping the LitMoms producing kits through the break, and finishing the distributions we still have outstanding before schools close.

This month we ran menstrual health and hygiene training at Kalau DEB Comprehensive School, reaching 250 students. The sessions covered managing periods, tracking a cycle, reproductive health, and building the confidence to talk openly about it. We then gave reusable Wings Poa kits to 180 of the girls, so they can manage their periods and stay in class.

We also ran a menstrual health survey with 60 students at Kiuanzukini Senior School, asking about the challenges girls face during their periods so we know which schools to reach next. With Kalau DEB included, we have now completed six training sessions and surveyed 17 schools, and 478 girls across our rural partner schools now have a kit.

Behind every kit are the LitMoms, the local women who sew them. This month they produced 301 kits and earned Ksh 120,400 (around £700) for their work, building their tailoring skills as they go. In all we spent Ksh 198,400 (around £1,160): Ksh 50,000 on fabric, Ksh 120,400 for the LitMoms, Ksh 18,000 on transport, and the rest on monitoring and staff time.

The school calendar slowed us down. Mid-term exams and the break that followed cut into the time we had for training and distribution, so we reached fewer schools than planned. We are using the break to keep producing kits, which is why the LitMoms made more than we handed out, and once schools reopen we will pick up training, surveys, and distribution in the schools we have just surveyed.

This month we kept producing and distributing our Wings Poa reusable sanitary kits across our rural partner schools, and expanded the menstrual health surveys that help us find the girls who need support most.

We ran new surveys in five schools: Kalau DEB, Kiundwani, Kyamwei, Kyuluni, and Kyambusya Comprehensive Schools. The questionnaires help us understand the challenges girls face around their periods and decide where to focus next.

We then distributed Wings Poa kits to 198 girls across four schools: 31 at Nduluku, 28 at Miondoni, 66 at Makila, and 73 at Kionyweni Comprehensive Schools. That brings the total number of girls who now have a kit to 298. The kits mean girls can manage their periods with dignity and stay in school.

We also marked this year's Menstrual Hygiene Day, themed “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld”, by handing out 139 hygiene kits to girls at Makila and Kionyweni.

The funding mainly covered continued production of the kits, plus transport and coordination for the surveys and distributions. Beyond the girls receiving kits, the local women who sew them keep earning an income and building their tailoring skills.

Stigma around menstruation is still a challenge in some schools, and it can make girls hesitant to speak openly in our discussions and surveys. We'll keep running menstrual health education so girls feel safe sharing, and our next round of production and distribution will reach more of the schools we've just surveyed.

We're pleased to share that Phase 2 of the Wings Poa Reusable Sanitary Pad Project has reached its goal! All 450 reusable menstrual hygiene kits have now been distributed to girls across rural schools in Kenya.

In this final phase, 147 girls at Lower Yatta Girls Secondary School received their Wings Poa kits and participated in comprehensive menstrual health and hygiene training. The training covered proper use, cleaning, and maintenance of the reusable pads, as well as how to track their menstrual cycles.

Voices from the students:

Belitah, a student at Lower Yatta Girls Secondary School, shared:

It is my first time to see a re-usable sanitary pad. I am happy to receive this kit because I will be able to change frequently.

Damaris, another student, explained:

My parents could only afford to buy me two packets of sanitary pads to last me for the term. In a day, I would only use one pad in fear of using all the pads before the term ends.

Activities completed in this reporting period:

• Produced 50 shields for Wings Poa kits

• Packaged 50 complete kits of Wings Poa

• Coordinated with the school administration at Lower Yatta Girls on the distribution and training

• Conducted a training on personal hygiene

• Successfully distributed menstrual kits to 147 girls at Lower Yatta Girls Secondary School