Knickers for Kenya
Here’s Tabitha’s account of a recent visit to provide sanitary towels and underwear made available in partnership with “Earthwise Girls” and Nasio Trust supporters.
Today we have managed to visit Township primary school, and on our visit there, we have been able to hand out “Earthwise Girls” sanitary pads and Underwear to the girls in both class seven and eight. Prior to the distribution of pads, we were able to kick off with a lovely introduction from Madam Jane who engaged the students in lively conversation about themselves. The young women opened up and mentioned that what they hate about being girls and young women is that their menstrual cycle can be heavily embarrassing besides the fact that women have to undergo labour in order to have children. We also ventured into the sensitive areas that many are afraid to talk about which are Sex and the results that can be brought about by premature sexual intercourse and by sexual intercourse with people that may be infected by HIV and AIDS. It was observed that most of the girls were only afraid of having sex because of the high chances of pregnancy but they soon understood that HIV/AIDS is also a heavy repercussion that is a result of Sexual interaction with people that may carry the disease.
It was observed that most of the girls were only afraid of having sex because of the high chances of pregnancy but they soon understood that HIV/AIDS is also a heavy repercussion that is a result of Sexual interaction with people that may carry the disease
We went through a live demonstration on how to use the sanitary towel and had a couple of volunteers, including a teacher come forth and demonstrate how to use the pads showing complete understanding. The girls were very lively and ready to talk after a very interactive introduction and were curious about the pad and how it would work. They asked whether the pads expire, or smell, the period that they can be used, and how to maintain their quality over time. All these were questions that were expertly answered by the guide lines from earth wise and though Madam Jane. We then went through a practical demonstration on how to clean the sanitary towels. With a bucket of water, locally available and affordable soap and a medium sized earthwise pad, we demonstrated the proper way to clean the pad, in five rinses and thereafter hung it out in the sun to dry.
There are very serious repercussions that may come about if the pad is not used in the right way which we made sure to emphasize during the talk. If pads are not hung outside in the sun but are left to be damp and worn, it creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow and bring about itches and bacterial infection.
The girls were very lively and ready to talk after a very interactive introduction and were curious about the pad and how it would work.
To the young women who had already started their periods, we handed two to three “Earthwise Girls” pads, to those who had heavy flow, three to four pads, and to those who had not yet started, we handed one to two pads. As a part of the pads distribution, we also handed out underwear with which to use the pads. The young women beamed with excitement; they posed for the photograph as the boys mischievously chuckled nearby. They did a short flash of the “Earthwise Girls” pads expressing their thanks toward the company and to all those that contributed to their receiving of this truly wonderful and resourceful gift.
The teachers were all very supportive and glad to see their girls receive the sanitary towels from the Nasio Trust. The trust continues to build the entire community in this way because not only the young women who are part of the Nasio Trust received pads, but all of the children in the two respective classes regardless of their background.
Special thanks to;
- Earthwise company for the production of the colourful pads.
- To all those that purchased the pads for the young ladies
- The Nasio trust team that was sent to the school to deliver the pads.
