While education is free, lack of uniforms, stationary, underwear, sanitary pads and soap alike exclude many. Financial hardship is profound due to reliance on subsistence farming, illnesses, increasing unemployment due to the impact of COIVID-19. The lack of access to water, toilets and sanitary pads in schools are key factors that exclude girls who menstruate from their learning. Many drop out, become domestic staff or get married. We aim to enable more girls to complete their education.

For 13 years we partnered with local communities and schools to support children at risk of dropping out due to hardship. They selected girls from remote areas for scholarship award (stipend, mentoring, higher education support). The demand for this is growing and we are keen to continue this. Rural girls enrol later entering puberty while still at primary school. A programme addressing period poverty will be established to support girls in 3 rural primary school’s and one High school.