In March 2024, Wilderness Rwanda and Children in the Wilderness had the opportunity to support 407 Bisate Primary and Secondary school girls with re-usable sanitary pads. This impactful initiative aims to empower the female students by providing them with essential menstrual health products and information.
Menstrual health is a topic that is often overlooked, yet it plays a crucial role in the lives of young girls. In the local schools in Rwanda, access to proper menstrual hygiene management resources is limited, leading to numerous challenges for girls during their periods.
The 407 girls were struggling to continue their studies during their periods, as they lacked the sanitary supplies to assist them. Thanks to generous donations from guests who have visited Wilderness Bisate, we were able to support the girls with a sanitary pack each. The sustainable sanitary packs consist of two pairs of underwear and six re-usable pads, packed together in a pretty kitenge fabric purse. The donated sanitary pads are of very high quality, and will make a significant difference to the lives of so many young ladies.
The re-usable and eco-friendly packs are made by Muhisimbi Voice of Youth, a local non-profit project that supports teenage mothers in the surrounding villages. In this way, we also provide sewing jobs for these young women – the very definition of women empowerment in action! The 407 sanitary packs are worth a total of USD8,140.
We believe that every girl deserves the opportunity to reach her full potential, unhindered by the challenges posed by menstruation. Through initiatives like the reusable sanitary pad pack distribution, we are taking steps towards achieving this goal.
We would like to thank the Bisate Community Committee and the school leaders for their assistance in implementing this project. And of course, a big thank you to the donors who made this possible!
