In Uganda, menstruation-related challenges significantly disrupt girls’ education. A 2024 audit by the Office of the Auditor General found that, in many schools across the country, over 60% of girls reported missing school during their periods due to inadequate menstrual hygiene facilities and materials. Earlier studies, including those supported by UNICEF and SNV in 2020, indicate that many girls miss 2–3 school days each month during menstruation, amounting to weeks of lost learning annually. In addition, a girl’s first period doesn’t mark a natural step toward womanhood; it marks the beginning of silence, shame, and often, the end of her education. For 14-year-old Rose from a marginalized community in Eastern Uganda, this nearly became her story too.
Rose, the Menstrual hygiene ambassador of Right Path
Like many girls in Uganda, Rose missed up to three days of school each month. In addition, she used rags torn from old clothes, sometimes soil or folded newspaper, desperate measures that led to infections, anxiety, and humiliation. Worse still was the fear: fear of leaking, fear of being laughed at, fear of being seen as “unclean.” In a community where menstruation is rarely spoken of and often surrounded by taboo, Rose felt alone.
Then came the Girlcare Kit.
Through Right Path’s Girlcare Initiative, Rose received a simple but transformative package:
- Reusable, eco-friendly sanitary pads
- A small, absorbent towel
- A bar of soap
- A dual-purpose bucket, for washing, and discreet storage
More than just hygiene supplies, this kit became her lifeline.
From Isolation to Inclusion
With reliable menstrual materials, Rose no longer had to choose between her health and her education. She returned to school with confidence, sitting in class without fear, participating in discussions, and raising her hand without hesitation. Her attendance stabilized. Her grades improved. But the real change went deeper.
“I used to hide during my period,” Rose shares. “Now, I walk tall. I know my body is not a shame, it’s a strength.”
From Beneficiary to Advocate
Empowered by knowledge from Girlcare’s interactive behavioral change sessions and mentored by trained senior women teachers, Rose began speaking openly with her peers about menstrual health. She challenged myths in her classroom, supported younger girls, and even engaged boys in respectful conversations about dignity and inclusion.
Today, Rose is not just a pupil; she’s a change-maker.
A Ripple Effect Across the Community
Rose’s transformation didn’t stop at the school gate. Her courage sparked dialogue at home. Her mother, once hesitant to discuss menstruation, now supports her openly. Neighbors began asking about the Girlcare Kit. Local leaders took notice. What started as one girl’s relief has grown into a community-wide shift, where periods are no longer whispered about but understood, respected, and managed with pride.
Our kits are more than hygiene essentials; they are a turning point for countless girls.
Why This Matters
In Uganda, fewer than 1 in 4 girls complete lower secondary school. Period poverty, driven by stigma, lack of infrastructure, and inadequate resources, is a major driver of this crisis. But solutions exist.
Right Path’s Girlcare Initiative doesn’t just distribute kits. It:
- Â Trains educators as menstrual health mentors
- Uses engaging tools like the Moon Rise Game (An interactive card game that sparks dialogue about menstrual myths) to bust myths
- Â Engages boys and men to build supportive school environments
- Â Promotes sustainable, eco-friendly products that last for years
- Â Centers dignity, not charity
And it works. Schools implementing Girlcare report higher attendance, stronger student-teacher trust, and a culture of inclusion.
Rose’s story is powerful, but it doesn’t have to be rare.
Because every girl deserves to move through life, not in shame, but in strength.
