💊 Health

Improving school attendance in Zimbabwe through reusable menstrual kits and hygiene education

A group of young women tossing colorful floral bags into the air outdoors near a large industrial building.

Fund capital used

$3,020

On average, 72% of rural girls in Zimbabwe do not have access to sanitary wear and miss 48 to 60 days of school a year due to their menstruation.

The financial burden of procuring sanitary wear results in the use of unsanitary alternatives. These include corn curbs, cow dung, leaves and rags. The stigma associated with menstruation increases the risk of these unhealthy and unhygienic practices as girls are not adequately educated on healthy menstrual hygiene practices.

This project will promote healthy menstrual hygiene management through virtual educational sessions and the donation of tailor-made packages with sustainable sanitary wear that is locally manufactured in Zimbabwe.

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Local partner:

The Story

This project, in collaboration with the Daisies Foundation, distributes reusable sanitary pad kits—alongside virtual menstrual hygiene education—to girls in Zimbabwe, helping them remain in education.

Why is this work necessary?

In Zimbabwe, around 72% of rural girls lack access to sanitary wear and miss 48 to 60 school days per year due to menstruation. The financial burden forces many to resort to unsafe alternatives such as corn husks, cow dung, leaves, and rags.

Stigma around menstruation further compounds the problem, as girls often lack accurate information and supportive environments to manage their health. Without intervention, period poverty leads to poor educational outcomes, social exclusion, and long-term health risks.

Who is the Daisies Foundation?

The Daisies Foundation, established in 2021, assists women and children with education and menstrual health and hygiene. They partner with grassroots initiatives to ensure distribution is community-led, safe, and effective. Their model supports a locally owned, women-led supply chain that empowers women as producers and educators.

The solution

Reusable menstrual kits—locally manufactured by skilled artisans—are distributed to girls, accompanied by virtual educational sessions covering menstrual health and hygiene.

Each kit contains reusable sanitary pads, two pairs of underwear, five pegs, two large Ziploc bags, a cloth bag, bar soap, a washcloth, a menstrual calendar, and an educational leaflet. These supplies last up to two years and provide girls with the means and knowledge to manage their periods safely and confidently.

Impact and outcomes

This project provides girls in Zimbabwe with sustainable menstrual supplies and essential health education, enabling them to attend school year-round without interruption.

By investing in local production and knowledge-sharing, the initiative not only addresses immediate health and education needs but also strengthens long-term community resilience and gender equity.

Updates

From the field

Menstrual kit distribution completed in Harare, Zimbabwe

Posted 14 Oct 2024

Our effort to distribute reusable menstrual kits to 175 students concluded last Friday, with a final 55 students receiving their reusable kits.

Students in various school uniforms holding up packages of sanitary pads outdoors beneath a tree. For our last distribution, we partnered with Grace Life Foundation, which supports school-going girls with educational scholarships in the high-density areas of Epworth, Rugare, and Mufakose in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Students in various school uniforms sitting outdoors on benches while a woman in white and jeans addresses them under a large tree. Our distribution and workshop were successful, combining our 55 re-usable kits with an additional donation of 55 disposable pads from an external donor.

Attached is a report of the work.

Attachments:

Project report PDF · 858 kb

Successful menstrual kit distribution and health workshops held in Kwekwe

Posted 26 Sept 2024

The first distribution took place in Kwekwe today. 120 students received reusable menstrual kits, and a broader group of students participated in health education workshops. Students and organizers gather for menstrual kit distribution in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe Excited students celebrate receiving reusable menstrual kits, tossing orange bags in air

Attached is a reel of the day's events:

Kwekwe distribution project gains ministry approval and sets target date

Posted 19 Sept 2024

We've secured distribution approval from the Ministry of Education in Kwekwe, and a District Schools Inspector has also been assigned to accompany our team to schools.

Currently, the team is finalising distribution dates and beneficiary lists with local schools. The proposed distribution date is set for September 26th.

700 menstrual kits ready for Zimbabwe schoolgirls

Posted 4 Sept 2024

The team in Zimbabwe has made great progress in producing 700 washable pads and holder bags to be distributed to 175 girls. These were crafted by the women trained at the Ruwa safe house, who used their new sewing skills.

Two reusable cloth menstrual pads, one cream-colored and one black, lying flat on a brown textured carpet surface.

Schools reopen on September 9th, and the team is finalising distribution plans.

A pink woven polypropylene sack with handwritten text reading "Daisies Foundation," "600x," and "QTY 600" in black marker.

Training and sewing has begun in Ruwa

Posted 13 Aug 2024

As per the last, we extended this initiative into Zimbabwe and will distribute reusable menstrual kits to 175 students in urban and rural Areas.

This time around, we employed and trained women in a safe house in Ruwa, which homes women who became pregnant in their teenage years or otherwise needed to tap into communal support networks.

This update includes clips of the women tapping their newly learned sewing skills and producing the holder bags that will house the reusable pads.

Distribution will begin in September once students are back in school. As a result, these students will be able to attend all school days of the year.