Addressing Period Poverty
Girls (at the educational seminar) were saying, now they will not miss school days when they are having their period.
– Stanley Gitari, Program Lead
Millions of girls and women across the globe cannot afford menstrual products or access to safe water and sanitation to manage their menstrual health and hygiene. This can lead to missed education, income from work, and more.
In 2025, the Center provided over $10,000 to three programs addressing period poverty. In Maua, Kenya, Stanley and Mary Gitari are running a program that reaches five schools and 250 girls, providing reusable sanitary pads and hygiene kits, in addition to monthly mentorship and training sessions that teach life skills and health education. The resusable sanitary pads are handmade by seamstresses, like Stella (a young woman who lost her parents due to AIDS - pictured left).
In Meru, Kenya, our partner (Love Care Peace Ambassadors) are providing disposable sanitary pads for 300 girls in 4 schools. In addition, all of the girls attending the Kaaga Synod schools have their sanitary pads covered.
In Kolkata, India, 500 girls in 10 schools are receiving quarterly training and disposable pads.
Center Board member, Clietta Terry, reports that "Young women and their mothers are invited to daylong seminars. In addition to receiving menstrual supplies, they are provided training on hygiene and self-care." To combat traditions of involuntary female genital mutilation, the day ends with an alternative Rite of Passage celebration. To combat period poverty in Kenya and India, please consider a donation to help us end period poverty.
