Sahara Charity partner with schools to promote menstrual hygiene

By Hashim Kalungi
Sahara Charity Organization has partnered with schools in Bukomansimbi district to enhance menstrual hygiene, reduce absenteeism, and improve menstrual hygiene education for young girls in rural schools.
According to Abdallah Twaha Matovu, Sahara Charity’s coordinator, the partnership will promote menstrual hygiene management by empowering girls to make sanitary towels for use during their menstrual days.
“We want to do away with stigma and taboos around menstruation, so we’re giving girls confidence that experiencing menstruation is normal. We just need to help them experience it with dignity,” Matovu said.

The initiative, starting with St. Victor Secondary School and Bukomansimbi Secondary School, aims to reach over 10,000 vulnerable school girls.
They will receive skills training for making reusable sanitary pads, menstrual hygiene education, and free pads.
The two-year program, in collaboration with Miftah Lifestyle, seeks to enhance access to materials for rural girls to manage menstrual hygiene.
Matovu emphasized the need to support rural girls’ self-confidence and equal education opportunities.
“Girl children in rural areas need support to develop self-confidence without fear of missing school due to menstruation, allowing them equal school time as their male counterparts,” he said.

Christopher Oscar Kato, Miftah Lifestyle’s founder, stressed empowering girls during adolescence.
“Empowering young girls is essential for achieving sustainable development goals. We promise to support girl children in rural schools, ensuring they complete studies,” Kato said.
Zahara Nabukenya, lead trainer, taught students how to make hand-woven reusable towels.
“Giving girls skills to make pads using local materials will help them even after the program ends and reduce costs,” Nabukenya emphasised.
JosephKatabalwa,theheadteacherof StVictor SS thanked partners for supporting girl children during menstruation.
“The initiative will help girls stay in school, compete academically with boys, and overcome stigma.”
This partnership aligns with Uganda’s efforts to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable