Sanitary Pads Keep Ugandan Girls in School

Thanks to your generous support, our health programs around Kibale National Park in Uganda continue to make a lasting difference—especially for adolescent girls who face significant barriers to education and healthcare.

Since 2015, our Reusable Menstrual Pad (RUMPs) initiative has empowered over 4,800 students—both girls and boys—with practical skills to make reusable pads and essential education on puberty and reproductive health. In 2024, we trained 600 additional students, and their knowledge reached over 5,000 community members through student-led end-of-year showcases. Notably, 79% of girls trained last year in this program went on to teach these skills to family and friends—helping extend the impact well beyond our trainings.

The results are clear: in a 2024 survey of 416 girls, 92% reported rarely or never missing school due to menstruation—demonstrating the power of sustainable menstrual hygiene to support girls' education.

Another critical part of our health work is increasing access to HPV and tetanus vaccines. While the Ugandan government provides these vaccines, rural schools often miss out. To close this gap, we partner with government health teams to facilitate clinics directly at our schools. In 2024, 93% of eligible students at our 16 partner schools received both vaccines—compared to just 55% in nearby schools without this support.

And this vital work continues into 2025! We’ve already enrolled 620 students in our after-school health clubs, where new RUMPs trainings are about to begin. So far this year, 206 girls have received HPV vaccines, and 131 have received tetanus vaccines—with many more to come.

Your continued support through GlobalGiving makes all of this possible. You are helping us deliver practical, life-changing health education and care to thousands of girls in rural Uganda. Thank you for being a vital part of this journey. 

Links:

• Kasiisi Project Website