We distribute washable/reusable sanitary pads at health and hygiene workshops, ensuring menstrual periods do not stop girls from attending school and continuing their education. This program began with the STADA team in Kenya, but in 2025 we successfully incorporated Dignity Kits in Liberia and Nigeria as well.
STADA, one of our implementing partners in Kenya, distributes “Dignity Kits” – consisting of 5 reusable sanitary pads in a reusable, zippered bag – in the Kisumu and Kitui counties of rural Kenya. Girls in these rural areas have to miss class time in school due to their limited access to affordable Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) products and information. According to the Kenyan Ministry of Health, 54% of Kenyan girls face challenges in accessing MHM products, and 65% are missing sufficient access to these products. When girls lack affordable access to menstrual care, they sometimes turn to the desperate practice of ‘sex for pads’ – which is the exchange of sex for sanitary towels. This leads to teenage pregnancies, HIV/AIDs infections, and eventually school dropouts.
In pursuit of ending period poverty, STADA focuses on keeping girls in school, creating awareness of MHM – thereby reducing period shame, and providing platforms to conduct research that would influence MHM policies. In achieving these objectives, STADA has produced more than 20,000 kits containing washable/re-usable sanitary towels since 2022. More than 16,322 have been distributed so far. Every three months, STADA carries out assessments to determine the impact of the program. From their most recent assessment, school absenteeism was reduced by 74%, which has improved academic performance amongst girls in school by 55%!
(Featured in Lifewater Canada’s 2024 Annual Impact Report)
Period poverty – the lack of access to menstrual products, adequate sanitation facilities, and essential education on managing menstrual health – affects millions of women and girls around the world. This issue has far-reaching consequences, causing many to miss school or work, and leading to negative health and emotional outcomes. Moreover, period poverty increases the likelihood of gender-based violence, as many women and girls feel forced to stay home due to a lack of care essentials.
In countries like Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Haiti, a significant percentage of women are affected by period poverty. In both Kenya and Haiti, for example, 65% of women cannot afford basic necessities like menstrual products, pain medication, or even underwear, which severely impacts their hygiene, dignity, and mental well-being. In the regions where Lifewater Canada operates, this challenge is compounded by limited access to clean water and hygiene facilities. Without them, many women and girls are forced to use unsafe alternatives, such as dirty rags or newspapers, increasing their risk of infections. It also leads to more school absenses, with some girls resorting to risky behaviors, like transactional sex, to afford menstrual products. This exposes them to further risks such as pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, and gender-based violence.
Our partners at STADA in Kenya are actively working to change this. They provide women and girls with “Dignity Kits” – five reusable pads packaged in a durable zippered bag. Along with the kits, Health and Hygiene seminars focusing on women’s health are held, offering valuable education on menstrual hygiene management (MHM). To date, STADA has distributed over 16,300 kits, leading to a 74% decrease in school absenteeism and a 55% improvement in academic performance among girls.
This month, STS-Liberia plans to launch a similar Dignity Kit program, with our partners in Nigeria to follow in the new year. These efforts are enabling girls to stay in school, remain healthy, and avoid the risks of teenage pregnancies and infections.
Empowering women and girls through the distribution of Dignity Kits is part of Lifewater Canada’s broader mission. In addition to providing access to clean water, we focus on building sanitation facilities and delivering essential health and hygiene education. Together, these initiatives ensure that women and girls in Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Haiti have the tools they need to live healthier, more dignified lives.
(Featured in Lifewater Canada’s Fall 2024 Newsletter)
You may remember reading about “period poverty” in our Fall 2024 newsletter and the work we are doing to combat this global hygiene and sanitation issue. After the success of our Dignity Kit pilot program in Kenya, we have been working on similar initiatives in Nigeria and Liberia. While we did have a few delays (shipping internationally is often unpredictable), we are thrilled to announce that Dignity Kits are officially part of our programming in all three African nations we work in!
With these kits, made up of reusable sanitary pads, thousands of women and girls will gain the ability to manage their menstrual cycle with dignity, safety, and peace of mind. Thanks to your partnership and support, we expect this program to mirror the outcomes we have seen in Kenya—a reduction in school absences and unplanned pregnancies, and an increase in academic performance. Thank you!
(Featured in Lifewater Canada’s Spring 2025 Newsletter)
