Her Education Matters: the Struggle for Sanitary Pads

For the 500 girls at Njenga Primary and Secondary Schools and across Malawi, the lack of access to modern reusable sanitary pads is a major issue, negatively affecting their education. On average, across the country, girls miss up to five days of school each month during their period.

A student at Njenga Secondary School said: “I have missed classes before because of menstrual period, I don’t find classes being comfortable and I always feel ashamed whenever I am in my menses, I normally wait until I am through”

Green Vision found that in the Traditional Authority of Kalonga where both schools are located, over 60% of the girls did not have access to modern reusable sanitary products. The average price of commercial sanitary packs with eight pads costs $2.10, making them unaffordable for Malawian girls. Many are forced to use the traditional method of menstrual hygiene management, reusing old unclean materials which are unsafe and unhygienic.

Another girl from Njenga Secondary School said: “I don’t have access to menstrual health kits. The kits are mostly expensive that I can’t afford, so I tend to use traditional means which I find difficult to use and are uncomfortable”

Through our Her Education Matters month-long campaign, we are raising enough money to produce renewable and sustainable sanitary pads for the students.

Think Malawi and Green Vision will provide the PTA and Mother Groups from Njenga Primary and Secondary Schools with two sewing machines and training for 20 women on how to sew. Alongside this they will establish a production log that will monitor quality and supply of materials and pads. 

It costs only £30 to train one of the mothers to operate the sewing machines.

These women will be a sustainable source of modern reusable sanitary pads for the girls at the schools. This will allow them to have clean and safe menstrual hygiene management long into the future with your help.

Through a donation, you can help over 500 girls at Njenga Primary and Secondary Schools gain access to reusable sanitary pads and improved menstrual hygiene management, giving them a better education.

Your donation is an investment in girls’ futures, education, and wellbeing. Please pledge to help sew a brighter, healthier future for girls in Malawi.

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