Menstrual Dignity for Refugee Women

With over 1 million refugees, Uganda is home to one of the world’s fastest growing refugee populations. Many of these families and individuals are fleeing conflict in neighboring South Sudan, with others escaping chronic violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo or intermittent danger in Burundi or other locations. 2018 has seen a continued increase in the numbers of people seeking refuge in Uganda, a large percentage of which are women and girls of reproductive age. Many of the challenges women and girls face when managing menstruation are often amplified in refugee settings, resulting in a greater need for access to sustainable menstrual health supplies and education. 

As Days for Girls came upon its 10th anniversary--November 1st of this year--we looked to ways to continue working toward our goal of reaching  Every Girl. Everywhere. Period, recognizing the tremendous need of displaced women and girls. We wanted to not only celebrate this incredible milestone, but to give girls and women a reason to celebrate as well. And we did just that.  

DfG's recent Global Girls Festival--a month-long celebration during which we rallied to reach over 100,000 girls and women with menstrual health solutions--provided the perfect catalyst for bringing menstrual care to many of Uganda's displaced women and girls. Utilizing festival resources, local DfG Enterprises were able to make and distribute 10,000 DfG Kits with health education to the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement in Western Uganda. 

Not only was the DfG Uganda team thrilled for the opportunity to return to Kiryandongo, where the reception has been positive and heartfelt in the past, but also for the added opportunity to empower local DfG Enterprises in Uganda and Kenya who made all of the DfG Kits that were distributed that day. 

The dual-impact of this distribution cannot be overstated; not only did we reach 10,000 women and girls with menstrual supplies and health education, but each of the participating DfG Enterprises earned income that has allowed them to contribute to their families and grow their small DfG businesses.

 All in all, it took a team of 75 trainers to reach all 10,000 girls and women on this special day – the 10^th birthday of Days for Girls. What a way to celebrate!