Core Programme: Empowering Girls
Building toilets.
Distributing reusable sanitary pads.
2173 girls empowered so far.
One of Made With Hope’s key programmes is to empower young girls in Arusha, Tanzania by providing them with support through their menstruation. From the communities we’ve visited we have seen a lack of awareness on the importance of ensuring girls have the facilities and education they need to effectively manage their periods .
We have seen first hand how girls in our partner communities are often stigmatised during menstruation preventing them from attending school. From our research in our schools, this affects their education and causes them to miss around 3-4 days a month (up to 45 days a year!) of school resulting in a loss of learning time.
Almost all girls have to use old rags during their period which is not effective at all. It means they often leak, which can be embarrassing and unhygienic.
The toilets at our partner schools either don’t exist or are very dilapidated, dangerous, unhygienic and have no hand washing facilities. If there are toilets they never have locks on so there is no privacy for the girls’ to deal with their period, this means the girls do not feel comfortable to attend school during menstruation.
The toilets at Maji moto primary- most of the doors did not lock and there were no handwashing facilities
The toilets were often dirty and flooded
“I have to tell my girl students to stay at home during their period because we don’t have the facilities they need to manage their period at school.”
What happens if this project doesn’t exist?
Without this project, young girls would be missing out on important learning at school which consequently could have a harsh effect on their futures.
Without an education in Arusha, girls who missed out on attending school during their period are more likely to end up in a cycle of poverty, at risk of abuse because they have no qualifications to get a job, or end up in really poorly paid work.
Here at Made With Hope, we cannot stress more how vital it is for the girls to feel a sense of empowerment, motivation and strength! Through this project, we hope we are able to provide girls with that feeling, a feeling of purpose and pride in being a girl.
Our newly constructed girls toilet block and handwashing station at Mshikamano Primary School
Students receiving a package of menstrual hygiene products
Sanitary products provided in the girls toilets
Our impact so far…
We are currently empowering over 2173 girls in 13 rural Tazanian communities!
Built 40 private, functional and sanitary toilets that are period friendly.
Provided reusable sanitary products from mooncups to reusable pads.
Menstruation and puberty workshops delivered for girls, boys and parents at the school to decrease taboos and teach menstruation management.
Training of 12 teachers, 2 from each school to provide support for girls and ensure the projects sustainability. To help Teachers can feel comfortable to provide accurate education on puberty, reproductive anatomy, sexual health, body hygiene, menstruation, and menstrual management.
Femme International delivering a MHM workshop with students
Our Girl Empowerment project at Marurani Primary:
At Marurani Primary School we successfully delivered:
10 cubicles with lockable doors
Privacy screen/wall that shields the block and washing areas from view
Handwashing facilities with soap provision
Facilities which allow girls to wash reusable MHM products
Installing full length mirrors for the girls to see any leakage
Cubicle space for girls to change and wash
Installing hooks so girls can hang up their clothes when washing
Menstrual waste bins/incinerator
Our delivery partner on the ground, Ndoto in Action, has been closely monitoring this project and discovered some incredible improvements! Through pre and post interviews we have found:
Increased happiness by 100% from 188 girls, head teacher and community members.
From attendance records we can see an 85% increase in girls attendance after toilets were built which is due to a combination of the girls having a safe, clean and private space to use as well as sanitary products to use.
Increased confidence and comfort by 100% due to 10 Cubicles with lockable doors constructed to enhance privacy when 188 girl uses the toilet.
Increased hand wash frequency post toilet visit by an average 80% to 188 girls which helps reduce hygiene related disease
You can read more about this project and others in our Projects & Impact — Made With Hope section on our website!
We asked a student at Marurani what she thinks:
“My name is Alice. I am in standard seven at Marurani primary school. I really appreciate One Kind Act for constructing a modern girl’s friendly toilet in our school. In the previous, we faced the challenge of being in the long queue waiting for one after one pupil to use the toilet. The toilet we were using hadn’t enough rooms and functioning handwashing station with available water. Due to this, we were exposed to unsafe water, poor sanitation, and hygiene which resulted in illness. We were also facing the challenge during our menstrual periods so some of us had no other option than to stay at home while classes are going on. This eventually affected our academic performance.
After the construction of girls-friendly toilets, the support from One Kind Act, we are now enjoying being at school even when we are in our menstrual periods. These toilets have enough rooms with a functioning hand washing station, incinerator, changing room with available clean water, and other menstrual hygiene management facilities such as environmentally friendly sanitary pads, soap, and underwear. This support from One Kind Act has brought new hope and smiles to our faces. We are now improving academically and we are looking forward to performing our bests and becoming professionals in our communities.”
Finally…
Here at Made With Hope, we strive to help and aid the girls of Tanzania to have their right of access to a good education. We will continue to work alongside the community to implement change.
Written by Maia Nasser