Period Poverty: Help Keep a Girl in School for $10

Dear Donors,

We sincerely thank the donors who have supported the Period Poverty: Help Keep a Girl in School for $10 project. Your kindness shows concern for girls who face difficulties attending school because they lack basic menstrual products. At present, the contributions received are still not sufficient to begin pad production and distribution.

In many rural communities in Nigeria, girls miss several days of school every month during menstruation. Many families cannot afford sanitary pads, and shops selling them may be far from remote villages. As a result, girls sometimes use unsafe materials such as old cloth, leaves, or tissue to manage their periods.

These makeshift options often cause discomfort, embarrassment, and infections. Because of this, some girls choose to stay home during their menstrual cycle. Repeated absences from school affect their academic performance, and some eventually fall behind or drop out entirely.

This project aims to provide three washable sanitary pads to 3,000 girls in rural communities. Each set is designed to be reusable for up to two years and will include clear hygiene instructions. The pads will be produced locally by trained women under Equitable Medicaid and Clinical Research using affordable materials.

Community volunteers and trained women will distribute the kits directly to schools and villages, ensuring that girls receive reliable menstrual products and basic guidance on safe hygiene practices.

With access to reusable pads, girls will be able to attend school regularly during their periods without fear or discomfort. Consistent attendance helps improve learning and confidence while reducing the risk of infections caused by unsafe alternatives.

Although support has begun to come in, the amount available cannot yet cover the first round of pad production and distribution. More assistance will make it possible to begin reaching girls who currently miss school because of period poverty.

Sincerely,

Joy Ojochogwu Etubi
Project Leader