Her Education: Karonga- Lufilya Community Day Secondary School

Through the Her Education Matters: Karonga campaign, we are raising £4,000 to support 1,000 school girls in Karonga District, Northern Malawi.

This article focuses on Lufilya Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) where while the girls receive menstrual hygiene management education they cannot manage their periods in privacy due to a lack of facilities at the school.

According to the chair of the Lufilya CDSS Mother Group, Mercy Mwamondwe:

"Some girls feel shy to come to school because of lacking change room facilities. When the period starts while in class, girls walk out of classes and go home leaving their friends learning in classes."

This is an issue across Malawi where, on average. a girl misses up to 5 days a month at school. While 95% of girls attend primary school, under half complete school with many dropping out due to falling behind, difficulties at home, or child pregnancy.

To help the girls at Lufilya CDSS stay in school and have the education they deserve, we are funding the construction of 2 new private changing rooms.

Location for the construction of changing rooms

These changing rooms will allow girls to stay at school during their menstruation meaning they can manage their periods with privacy and dignity instead of embarrassment and absenteeism.

With the local community and school dedicated to maintaining these changing rooms after their construction, not only will they help the current 400 girls attending the school but also future students with the lifespan of buildings lasting up to 15 years.

Anna, a student in Form 3 at Lufilya CDSS regularly misses school because of her period every month however with a private changing room she will be able to stay in school:

"To me school is very important as it gives me hope of my future. I want to finish school so one day I can help my family and achieve my goals."

Through helping the 400 girls at Lufilya CDSS and the 600 Mzinga Primary School we are helping change the lives of over 1,000 girls through raising £4,000.

The Her Education Karonga project will last for over 12 months building the changing rooms as seen above, and supplying 4 sewing machines to Mzinga Primary School for reusable sanitary pads.

Our Malawian Partner Organisation, Fountain of Hope, will oversee the management of the project with the aims being:

• Reduce absenteeism caused by menstruation by 60%

• Increase school retention rates by 70%

• Provide 400 girls with safe sanitation facilities

• Ensure 600 girls have access to reusable sanitary pads

• Reduce stigma surrounding menstruation across the wider community

• Lower risks of child marriage, early pregnancy, and school dropout

The wider community impact could reach more than 10,000 parents, teachers, and local leaders through awareness and education activities. Every donation helps remove barriers preventing girls from accessing education.

Please donate to help these 1,000 girls and make a difference in not only their lives, but also the girls who come after them.

You can stay updated through our social media such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X or join our monthly newsletter.