Teaching girls how to make Reusable pads

Without the right knowledge and resources, girls in Tanzania can miss months of school each year – simply because they can’t attend school during their periods.

The Her Pad project provides menstrual education and advocacy for school-aged girls in rural Mwanza. Program facilitators come to each school, where girls in Year 7 and 8  are taught how to make their own reusable cloth sanitary pads so that their periods don’t disrupt their lives and learning. Boys at the schools are also taught about menstrual health and how to support and respect their peers. This in turn increases girls’ school attendance, self-esteem and self-worth, helps improve their academic performance, and increases their chances of completing their schooling.

In 2021, with a $AU 5000 grant from Sunflower, this project reached over 1,000 girls in rural Tanzania. It received wide support from school administration, and the involved schools saw an increase in girls’ school attendance and test scores. In 2022, Sunflower will support Her Pad with a further $AU 2000 grant to sustain the program and increase its reach.