The Kenya Women Teachers Association has been conducting a countrywide program with the aim to identify schools with needy girls, empowering them, and issuing them with year-long supplies of sanitary pads.
Under the stewardship of Benta Opande the CEO of KEWOTA, today KEWOTA Nairobi chapter ran this program at Mathare Special Training Center.
Today’s program was different and intriguing. This is because the beneficiaries of today’s program are girls with special needs.
Before we dive into the details of today’s event; here is why KEWOTA is donating sanitary pads to girls countrywide:
- A survey conducted by KEWOTA shed light that, due to lack of sanitary towels, girls in some parts of the county miss 40% of school days annually. Reason for this; they have to stay home until their menstrual week is over. Throughout this time, the rest of the students are still in school learning.
- During a school visit in a rural part of Kenya, one of the girls shared with the KEWOTA CEO a saddening experience, recalling that one of her friends would not be sitting for her exams since there was a time she lacked sanitary pads and was defiled by a shop keeper in exchange for pads. She ended up pregnant and stopped going to school.
- Girls who are less fortunate and cannot afford sanitary towels resort to makeshift options, which put them at high risk of diseases and infections.
This examples justify the need to ensure all girls get access to sanitary towels, no matter their background or financial status. There are many reasons why this program is long due.
Back to today’s event, KEWOTA donated more than two thousand sanitary pads to girls undertaking post-primary studies at the Mathare Special Training Center.
The joy shown by the girls receiving the donations is mind-blowing. Their reactions clearly show that some of the things we take for granted are a treasure to those who lack them in their time of need.
The girls also received encouragement and motivation from Benter and women teachers from KEWOTA Nairobi county who had accompanied the CEO to the event.
The CEO stated that the association will not just donate the sanitary pads and go away. KEWOTA will walk hand in hand with the girls and ensure their welfare is well taken care of every school term.
KEWOTA was accompanied by Pricilla Kerebi and Alice Onsarigo from Edsource Africa. The two associations are in talks to partner in formulating a program to empower the girlchild and put an end to the rise of teenage pregnancies in the country.
Organizations and individuals who seek to partner with KEWOTA in the journey to elevate young girls in our country can reach us through info@kewota.co.ke.
