Help Girls in School Get Reusable Sanitary Pads

Dear donors,

Thank you for your continued support toward ensuring that schoolgirls in underserved communities do not miss their education because of menstrual poverty. Your generosity has made it possible for us to take another strong step forward in this mission.

With your support, we successfully distributed 48 bags of high-quality reusable sanitary pads to 40 students and 8 teachers of Government Secondary School (GSS) Karu, Abuja. Each bag contained 20 reusable pads and 10 pant liners designed to last for several years. The students expressed deep joy and relief, noting that the pads will help them stay in school during their periods without fear, shame, or the health risks associated with using unsafe materials. Teachers also voiced their appreciation and shared that this intervention came at a critical time, as many of their students still struggle silently due to the lack of menstrual products.

The impact of this project is already visible. Girls who previously missed classes during their periods can now attend school consistently. They are learning how to manage their menstrual health with confidence and dignity. Teachers have also encouraged us to broaden the scope of the project. With nearly 3,000 students in the school, there is still a large number of girls who need support. The teachers further suggested that we include boys in basic menstrual hygiene education so they can better understand the process and offer support instead of stigmatizing girls when they experience period stains.

While our progress is encouraging, the need remains overwhelming. Thousands of girls in low-income communities across Abuja still face the same persistent challenge: they cannot afford sanitary pads. Many continue to use rags, paper, leaves, or other unsafe options, putting them at risk of infections, embarrassment, and lost learning time. Without expanded support, these girls will continue to fall behind academically, and many eventually drop out, increasing their vulnerability to early marriage, exploitation, and long-term poverty.

Your continued support is vital to sustaining and expanding this transformative work. Every additional contribution helps us reach more girls, strengthen menstrual hygiene education, and equip entire schools with the resources they need to keep girls learning without interruption. Together, we can ensure that no girl is left behind simply because of her period.

With great appreciation,

Joy Ojochogwu Etubi
Project Leader

Links:

• Read the news on Clariontimes

Dear Respected Donors,

We extend our deepest gratitude for your generous contributions to our project, "Help Girls in School Get Reusable Sanitary Pads." Thanks to your kindness, we are thrilled to share that we have reached our first major milestone; a significant step toward improving menstrual health for young girls in Nigeria.

It may seem unbelievable, but in 2025, many Nigerian schoolgirls still resort to using leaves, rags, or even unsafe materials during their menstrual cycles. This is not a problem of the past—it is a harsh reality today. Lack of access to proper sanitary products forces girls to miss school, suffer in silence, or face shame and stigma. Education should not be disrupted by something as natural as a period, yet for countless girls, it is.

With your support, we have successfully produced 48 bags of high-quality reusable sanitary pads. Each bag contains:

• 20 reusable pads
• 10 pant liners

This brings the total to 960 pads and 480 pant liners produced and packaged. All packs have been branded and are ready for delivery. This progress was made possible through contributions from our first donors and with support from our organization’s in-house support. We thank you sincerely.

As of now, all schools in Nigeria are on their annual break. Both public and private schools are expected to resume in September 2025. We have scheduled our first distribution round for that month. During this exercise, we will share photo and video documentation of the delivery process, and you will receive a detailed update on how the items were shared, so you can see the direct impact of your generosity.

Beyond the distribution, our team will also visit the selected schools to demonstrate how to use, wash, and maintain the reusable pads properly. This practical session is important to make sure the girls are comfortable with the items and can manage their periods with confidence.

This is only the beginning. Thousands more girls still lack access to menstrual products, and many drop out of school entirely due to period poverty. The needs are large, and many more girls are still waiting for this kind of support. We hope to reach them in the coming months “No girl should have to choose between her dignity and her education”.

Attached are photos of the first batch of fully branded sanitary pads, prepared for distribution to disadvantaged and low-income schoolgirls in Nigeria’s urban slums. Each pack represents hope, health, and the chance for a girl to stay in school.

Thank you for your generosity. Together, we are changing lives; one pad, one girl, one school at a time.

With gratitude,
Joy Ojochogwu Etubi