When Periods Gatecrash…

Most of us have been caught off guard—scrambling for a solution, whispering to a colleague for a spare pad, making a quick trip to the shop. Inconvenient, yes, but easily fixed.

Now imagine facing 4–7 days of your period with nothing. No supplies, no backup plan, no way to get what you need. Imagine the fear of standing up in class, terrified you’ve stained your uniform. The shame, the bullying, the missed school days.

This is the daily reality for so many girls in Kenya. Half of all school-age girls do not have access to sanitary products. Many miss up to 25% of their education due to the stigma attached to menstruation and the fear of soiling their clothes in class. Some are even forced into dangerous situations just to afford basic period protection.

Together, we are changing this.

We are beyond moved by a recent pledge to support 500 girls with reusable sanitary pad kits and menstrual health training. That’s 500 lives transformed—500 girls who no longer have to choose between their dignity and their education.

So far, we’ve donated over 30,000 washable sanitary pads, trained thousands of girls in menstrual and reproductive health, and helped them regain their confidence and freedom.

The change is tangible. Here’s what it means to the girls and teachers we support:

“Our children are now free because of the availability of Kujuwa kits.” – Mercy, Teacher

“I don’t know what I would have done without the information and pads I received from Kujuwa. Unlike some girls who struggle when they reach this stage, I was fortunate to have people who guided me.” – Maria, 13

“Through Kujuwa Initiative, we have received reusable sanitary pads. We have been using them, which has saved us money as we can’t always afford them.” – Happiness

But our mission goes beyond pads.

We are committed to ending period poverty, breaking the stigma, and ensuring that menstruation is never a reason for girls to miss out on education or opportunity. That means not only supporting girls but also educating entire communities—parents, uncles, brothers, and sons—to shift the conversation, end ridicule, and debunk misconceptions.

Our reusable pads are produced from repurposed fabric waste from the SOKO Kenya clothing factory and last 3–5 years. In a country without a formal waste management system, disposable pads often end up in streams, on roadsides, or in informal settlements, taking 500 years to decompose. Our solution is sustainable—not just for the girls who need them but for the planet, too.

Thank you to our incredible Kujuwa team for their dedication, hard work, and the relationships they’ve built in communities. And thank you to our supporters—you are changing lives.

This is what progress looks like. And we’re just getting started. ❤️