Regina really loved school. But one day, she had an experience that changed her story. She was in her periods. She rushed to the only latrine in the school to change her pad before the next lesson. Unfortunately, one of the boys in her classroom found her in the process. She felt humiliated. She knew she would be the joke of her school. With tears welled up in her eyes, Regina ran home. She dared not go back to class to pick up her books. After all, she would never need them again. She would quit school.

“I was so ashamed. I could not bear to face the boy who had found me changing my pad. I made the decision to quit school.” she says.

According to UNESCO, 1 in 10 girls in sub–Saharan Africa will miss school due to period-related challenges such as lack of pads or lack of access to sanitation facilities.

Pagoya Primary School in Katajula sub-county, Tororo district has a population of 803 pupils but the school has only one 5-stance latrine which is shared by the girls, boys, and teachers at the school. Consequently, many girls like Regina are dropping out of school due to the lack of proper sanitation facilities. There is no safe space for them to manage their periods with privacy and dignity.

Addressing period stigma

During Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations, Jars of clay reached out to Regina and other girls who had dropped out of school under similar circumstances. After counselling and some support towards menstrual products, the girls agreed to resume school, albeit in different schools. In Pagoya Primary School, 100 girls received reusable sanitary pads with support from Capital Radio a Ugandan based FM radio. According to Dorothy Awori the Team Leader “the only way to tackle period stigma is by including boys in the conversation.” Among other things, the boys were taught that periods are a normal part of growth. They were encouraged to support their sisters instead of ridiculing them. According to Ms. Eunice Akongo, the Senior Woman Teacher “the intervention would help to keep girls in school because many of them tend to skip school when they are menstruating.”

Call to partners

Unfortunately, the sanitation challenges facing Pagoya Primary school seem to be recurring in other schools within the district. In about 10 identified primary schools, teachers, boys, and girls all share the same sanitation facilities.

Jars of Clay is reaching out to potential partners to support the construction of disaggregated sanitation facilities with changing rooms for girls in these schools. By so doing, other girls may be spared the humiliation that Regina went through. Other girls would not have to leave school for something as normal and healthy as menstruation. Other girls would manage their periods with dignity and with privacy – Partner with us Today!