Completion of the Her Education Matters Njenga Fundraiser

We are thrilled to announce the success of our month-long fundraising campaign from September to October.

With your donations we have raised £4,050 of the required £4,000 for the Her Education Matters Njenga.

Our partner organisation Green Vision had identified at Njenga Primary and Secondary that vulnerable girls were frequently absent from school during their periods.

The project was launched to directly address the issues at the school, like where across Malawi, girls frequently miss up to five days of school each month. At Njenga Primary and Secondary this profound absenteeism is driven by a lack of affordable sanitary protection, inadequate washing facilities, and the pervasive social stigma surrounding menstruation.

Research by Think Malawi's Malawian partner, the Green Vision Environmental Organisation (GREVEO), confirmed the extent of the challenge: over 60% of girls in the local district cannot afford commercial sanitary pads, forcing them to resort to unsafe and unhygienic traditional methods.

This problem is compounded by minimal facilities at the schools with both schools only having "just a single toilet which is not conducive" for menstrual hygiene management according to the head-teacher of the primary school. This issue is one seen across Malawi with 28% of primary school dropouts cited in a recent government survey as being caused by poor facilities.

Picture of site for secondary school proposed changing rooms

To tackle this barrier for the 500 girls of Njenga Primary and Secondary school this project with your funding will implement a robust, two-pronged sustainable solution.

Firstly, the provision of two manual sewing machines and materials will be given to 20 members of the PTAs and Mothers' Group, This will allow them to locally produce a continuous, high-quality supply of reusable sanitary pads.

Secondly, the funds secured the construction of new, dedicated eco-friendly changing rooms and toilets at both schools, which will provide girls with the safe, private, and hygienic spaces they desperately need. The construction uses sustainable, eco-friendly bricks, and there has been strong commitment from the local community, including the PTA and Mothers’ Group, to contribute building materials and assist in the construction process.

The long-term success of the initiative is secured by this vital community ownership model. The local groups are responsible for the ongoing production of pads and the School Management Committees will oversee the maintenance of the new facilities. This sustainable approach is expected to reduce absenteeism by 60% at the schools, drawing on the proven success of Think Malawi's previous similar projects, which observed significant increases in girls' enrolment and improved educational outcomes.

We want to personally thank all of you who donated towards this fundraiser and the impact you have made for 500 of the girls. We will continue to update you on the progress of the project and how your donations have made a difference.