Tag Archives: Sanitary napkins

Afghanistan’s Future & Women, Strike in Swaziland & More

 


 

 

Swazi Students Suffer as Teacher Strike Escalates

Swaziland’s largest teacher’s union recently called a strike in response to the government’s refusal to offer a salary increase and improve school facilities.  The conflict has spread across the country and government spokesman Percy Simelane says all teachers who taking part in the strike will be fired. Teachers claim the students are the real victims, who have inadequate learning environments. Although principals have been ordered by the government to keep school doors open, many students are joining their teachers in the strike.  Read more here.

Madagascar Launches Online Research Network
Earlier this month Madagascar launched an online research network that promotes discussion among worldwide researchers, students and policymakers. The project will provide new opportunities for Madagascar’s six state universities and three higher institutes of technology to connect and share knowledge as well as improve learning and research activities. Read it here.

Kenya Government Determines Funds for Sanitary Towels
The Kenya Treasury allocated Sh300 million for the 2012/2013 financial year that will help girls from poor families have access to free sanitary towels–but the towels will only benefit those in primary school. Read it here.

Afghanistan’s Future Depends on Women
As foreign troops leave Afghanistan, the future of the country is uncertain. However, their success or failure will largely depend on whether or not Afghans, especially women, are given their basic needs. In order to tackle big problems–such as one of the highest female illiteracy rates in the world–civilian protection must be a top priority for the government. Read all the details here.

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Free Bikes Keep Indian Girls in School, Water Issues, & More

Free Bicycles Help Keep Indian Girls in School
In an effort to improve literacy and high school graduation rates among girls one of India’s poorest and least developed states, Bihar, is giving free bicycles to students who live long distances from school. The program, which launched in 2007, has seen great success and produced a remarkable increase in the number of girls registered in school. It has been especially helpful for girls living in remote villages who would otherwise have to drop out due to the long distance between home and their high school. In addition to the free bikes, the government of Bihar is also giving out free school uniforms. Authorities require students to maintain a 75 percent attendance record in order to earn the bike and uniform. Read more here.

Niger Children Miss School to Search for Water
Over 80 percent of the population in Niger does not have access to running water. As a result, most school-age children, particularly girls, are given the laborious burden of finding safe drinking water, which is a search that overrides just about everything else including their studies. In Zinder, one of Niger’s largest cities, things are especially bad following a short rainy season. Officials say a third to one-half of students have abandoned their classrooms. “It’s the water that is keeping them out of school,” said Salissou Sahirou, an education official in Baban Tapki. Read more here.

Literacy Program Thrives for Women in Morrocco
An accelerated literacy program targeting girls and women in remote villages throughout Morocco is changing lives. As part of the nation’s literacy campaign, the program requires students to complete 300 hours of basic reading, writing and numeracy classes. The girls are also given lessons in social and civil rights, development, environment and income-generating activities such as weaving, baking and beekeeping. Read more here.

Millions of Girls Still Lack Sanitary Pads in Kenya
More than 3 million girls in Kenya still don’t have access to sanitary pads. Beatrice Muta, the ambassador of the Saidia Dada Network Kenya, says it’s shocking that so many girls and women, especially those in remote villages, are still using old blankets, leaves or whatever is available during their menstrual period. Muta also said this remains one of the major contributing factors to the high drop out rate among girls. Read it all here.

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New Hygiene Program Launched to Keep Girls in School

Imagine for a moment that you are a girl attending school in South Sudan, and your monthly gift from Mother Nature has just arrived. You have a busy week of class ahead of you, exams are scheduled and the timing couldn’t be worse. You have no reliable way to manage your period so you’re forced to skip class, and any other plans you had for that matter, in order to avoid embarrassing leaks or stains.

Unfortunately, this scenario is reality for many teen girls in South Sudan. It’s no secret that schoolgirls in developing countries are faced with incredible challenges when dealing with their monthly menses. While most cannot afford to purchase sanitary napkins, many do not even have access to such materials. As a result, teen girls and women resort to using unhealthy and often dangerous materials to manage their monthly menses and many choose to simply stay hidden at home. Although it’s an issue that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, it is one of the contributing factors in absenteeism rates among school age girls at the Ayak Angeui Girls Primary School in South Sudan.

Our newest partner, Project Education Sudan, recently implemented “Freedom Pad,” a program that aims to keep girls in school everyday of the month by supplying them with reusable sanitary napkins and underwear. This new program provides the funding for sewing machines, training, and the materials needed to make cloth pads that can be washed and reused multiple times. Even better, as part of a skills based opportunity, the girls themselves will be trained on how to sew the pads.

Elizabeth Awai, Head Matron of PES’ Ayak Anguei Girls Primary School, is very excited to see this program begin, as it will provide many who are currently using makeshift goat skin pads with their first form of reliable sanitary protection. PES expects to see an improvement in absenteeism rates as girls will no longer have to choose between attending class or staying home during their period.

 

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