Nakuru Safehouse for Kenya Women and Children

Menstrual Hygiene Day(MH Day) is a global campaign celebrated on May 28th each year. It unites nonprofits, governments, individuals, businesses, and the media to promote good menstrual health and hygiene. The 2024 MH Day theme is Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.

Springs of Hope Foundation graduates have been sewing washable, reusable sanitary kits for the past three years thanks to kind your kind support of our program. It's a win-win project for our graduates, who live with us for free for 3 three months after completing their 12-month course, sewing the reusable pads and earning enough money to purchase their own sewing machine and seed money to start up their own business while at the same time improving their speed and accuracy and the women who receive the sanitary kits, which are usually distributed during our food hamper distributions unless there is a special request for sanitary kits on days such as today, MHDay. 
 

Each kit contains 8 washable, waterproof pads, two pairs of undies, soap, a washcloth, and an informational brochure in a reusable bag.

 For today's event, we were invited to partner with the Nakuru Chapter of YALI, Young African Leadership Initiative.
 

The members from YALI also presented to the adolescent girls and boys about the natural changes to expect in their growing bodies during the
challenging years ahead of puberty.In a #PeriodFriendlyWorld, the stigma and taboo surrounding menstruation should be history. It is a world where everyone should have access to the products, education, and infrastructure they need. 

Did you know…  

• Less than half of adolescent girls in Kenya are aware of menstruation before their first period. 
• Only 46% of Kenyan girls and women in rural areas and 65% in urban areas have access to and use disposable pads; close to 20% are forced to use proxy products like toilet paper, pieces of cloth, and other natural materials, while most are forced to spend several days a month out of school due to lack of menstrual hygiene pads and shame associated with their period.  (Menstrual Health Country Snapshot - Kenya, 2023)

 
We are honored, thankful, and humbled by your generous support, which allows us to offer these programs to the most needy in our community.

Asante Sana,

Warmest blessings,

Jennifer Hughes-Bystrom
 
 

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