Sanitary Pads Keep Ugandan Girls in School

Uganda closed its schools for longer than any other country during COVID and most of our children had no classroom time for 2 years. All children but especailly girls were deeply impacted. Many married off early, teen pregnancy rates skyrocketed and with incomes falling working in the informal economy helped support families, money that it is hard to do without just because schools have opened again. It is calculated that 30% of children did not return.

Last year for us was a "getting back on our feet" year. Schools, neglected for 2 years, needed a lot of infrastructure repair and children had to get used to sitting in class again. We delayed some of our programs while the schools sorted themselves out but we are going into 2023 with all guns blazing.

We will be holding reproductive health Peer Education training, teaching girls, teachers and parents how to make reusable menstrual pads, awarding secondary school scholarships to the neediest girls, building girl friendly latrines, building our health clubs and supporting our 14 new girl scout troups.

We will not only regain lost ground but surpass it.

This year marks 100 years of excellence in Girl Guiding  in Uganda. While many girls travelled to Kampala to join competitions  at the national level the Kasiisi Project celebrated the event locally. We were in a great position to do having held a ForGirlsSake funded Girl Guide leader training program earlier in the year, ensuring that  all our schools has girl guide troups.

128 Guides ( known as Girl Scouts in the USA) and 16 Guide Leaders from 16  Schools met at the Kasiisi Project farm camp ground for 2 days of competition and camping. The event was voted a great success and requests were made to make this an annual event.