By Samuel Akaraonye | Founder/CEO
At the Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation (SOHF), we believe that every girl deserves the dignity, health, and opportunity to thrive, regardless of her circumstances. The She Matters initiative was created to address the challenges of menstrual health management for young girls across underserved Nigerian communities.
Many adolescent girls miss school or struggle academically due to the lack of access to sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene education. This not only affects their education but also their self-confidence, social life, and future opportunities.
Through the She Matters initiative, we aim to provide 500 young girls with sanitary pads, hygiene education, and supportive mentorship to ensure they can attend school regularly, stay healthy, and grow into confident, empowered women.
Project Activities During This Period
During this reporting period, the project team focused on preparation, planning, and awareness activities in readiness for distribution.
However, we would like to transparently inform our supporters that no funds have yet been received for this project during this period.
Despite this, we have used the time to strengthen the project’s foundation by:
• Engaging with community leaders, school authorities, and parent-teacher associations
• Identifying the 500 girls who will benefit from the project
• Sourcing high-quality, safe, and eco-friendly sanitary pads
• Developing educational materials on menstrual health and hygiene
• Planning logistics for safe and efficient distribution once funding becomes available
The reality remains stark: many girls in Nigeria continue to face barriers that limit their education and wellbeing simply because menstrual hygiene products are out of reach. Your support is critical to help break this cycle.
Challenges
While our commitment remains unwavering, we are facing funding constraints, which have delayed the actual distribution of pads and educational sessions.
Additionally, social stigma and misinformation around menstrual health in some communities require careful community engagement and education. These challenges underscore the importance of awareness alongside provision of sanitary products.
Despite these obstacles, the project team remains focused and prepared to implement the initiative as soon as funding becomes available.
Looking Ahead: The Little by Little Campaign
We are encouraged by the upcoming Little by Little Campaign (March 17 – March 20). This campaign presents a critical opportunity to raise funds to reach the 500 young girls.
During this campaign, donations may receive matching funds, while matching funds remain, making every contribution go further in providing sanitary pads and hygiene education.
We invite friends, supporters, and donors to join us in this initiative. Even small contributions can make a life-changing difference in the lives of these girls.
Next Steps
Once funding is received, the project will move into full implementation:
• Distributing sanitary pads to all 500 girls
• Conducting menstrual health education and mentorship sessions
• Engaging community stakeholders to reduce stigma and increase awareness
• Monitoring the impact on school attendance, confidence, and health outcomes
These activities will help ensure that girls can stay in school, maintain dignity, and feel empowered to pursue their dreams.
Gratitude to Our Supporters
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all donors, partners, and advocates who continue to believe in our mission.
Your support inspires us to continue this vital work, even during challenging periods.
We also sincerely thank GlobalGiving for providing a platform that connects grassroots organizations with global supporters. Their commitment to transparency, community impact, and sustainable development enables us to reach girls who need help most.
Call to Action
Every girl deserves the dignity, health, and opportunity to succeed.
By supporting the She Matters initiative during the Little by Little Campaign, you help provide sanitary pads, education, and mentorship that can transform the lives of 500 young girls.
Join us in ensuring that no girl misses school or loses confidence due to a lack of menstrual health resources.
Little by little, we can make a lasting difference.
Closing Reflection
The girls we aim to serve are not just beneficiaries—they are Nigeria’s future leaders, innovators, and change-makers.
By empowering them today, we invest in a generation that will grow with confidence, resilience, and opportunity.
Although we are still awaiting funding, our commitment remains strong. With your support, this vision will become a reality.
Together, we can ensure that every girl can attend school, stay healthy, and dream big.
With gratitude and hope,
Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation (SOHF)
Empowering communities. Transforming lives.
By Samuel Akaraonye | Founder/CEO
By Akaraonye Samuel ifeanyi | Founder/CEO
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
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