EMPOWER AND EDUCATE VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN UGANDA

*Report: No Girl Should Miss School For Being A Girl*
*Theme: Dignity + Access at Gaba Hope for Kids*

No girl should miss school for being a girl. Yet every term we meet girls who stay home because of periods, lack of supplies, or shame. That is not education. That is a barrier we can remove. When we address what only girls face, attendance rises, confidence grows, and futures stay open.

*The Barrier We See*
For many girls, the start of menstruation means the start of missed days. Without pads, soap, or a safe place to change, school becomes impossible for several days each month. Some girls use rags or stay home. Others drop out completely. One missed week becomes one missed term, then one missed year. Over time, this gap turns into lost learning and closed doors.

*What Support Looks Like*
We remove this specific barrier so girls can learn every day of the term:

1. *Menstrual Health Kits*: Reusable pads, soap, underwear, and a carrying pouch. Supplies that last so girls are not choosing between school and dignity.
2. *Training + Safe Space*: Short sessions with girls and female mentors about menstrual health, hygiene, and body changes. Knowledge removes shame. A designated safe space at school gives privacy when needed.
3. *Guardian Conversations*: Peer mentors talk with guardians about supporting girls through this stage. When homes understand, girls get encouragement instead of silence.
4. *Teacher Awareness*: We equip teachers to respond with care, not punishment, when a girl needs a break or support during her cycle.

*What Changes When Girls Stay In Class*
Absences drop to zero during menstruation for girls in the program. Teachers report girls raising their hands more, joining group work, and leading activities. Confidence replaces hiding.

One girl told her mentor: “Before, I planned my life around my period. Now I plan my life around my dreams.” That shift is the point. Her biology should not decide her education.

This also protects long-term outcomes. Girls who miss fewer days stay on track for exams and secondary school. They see themselves as learners, leaders, and problem-solvers.

*Next Steps To Keep Every Girl In Class*
To make sure no girl is left behind, we need to:
1. *Sustain Supplies*: Ensure every girl has a working kit each term, with replacements when needed.
2. *Expand Training*: Reach more girls and guardians with accurate, respectful information about menstrual health.
3. *Improve School Facilities*: Support schools to provide clean water and private latrines so girls have a safe place to manage hygiene.

*Closing*
No girl should miss school for being a girl. Her body is not a barrier. It is part of her story. When we provide supplies, knowledge, and safe spaces, we tell every girl: You belong here. Your education matters.

*Call to Action*
Want to help keep girls in class all term long? Your support provides menstrual health kits plus training for one girl. Reply “Girl” and we will share how you can partner with us.

Every girl deserves to learn 30 days a month, not 20.