EMPOWERING MENSTRUAL DIGNITY:GIRLS WITH DISABILITY

Dear Friends, Supporters, and Champions of Change,
With heartfelt gratitude, I’m pleased to share the highlights of a recent and deeply impactful outreach carried out by the Hope Foundation for African Women (HFAW) at Arap Moi Primary School in Kajiado County. This initiative was dedicated to empowering 49 adolescent girls with disabilities through training on menstrual health, early pregnancy prevention, and essential life skills. As part of this effort, each girl also received a donation of sanitary pads and underpants to promote dignity and proper menstrual hygiene.
Girls with disabilities often experience unique challenges that put them at higher risk of stigma, neglect, and abuse. Recognizing this, our outreach aimed to create a safe, inclusive space where the girls could be seen, heard, and supported. We designed the training to be interactive, accessible, and affirming, ensuring that each girl not only understood the content but felt confident asking questions and sharing her experiences.
Our sessions covered key topics essential to the well-being of every adolescent girl. We began by helping the girls understand menstruation as a natural and healthy part of growing up. We emphasized that menstruation is not stopped or altered by disability and should never be a source of shame. The team also guided the girls through practical menstrual hygiene
practices such as using clean materials, changing regularly, handwashing, bathing, and proper disposal methods. We reinforced the message that asking for help is not a weakness but a right.
We addressed the emotional and physical changes that occur during menstruation, offering strategies to manage discomfort and mood swings, including using hot water bottles, resting, and speaking to a trusted adult. One of the most powerful segments of our outreach focused on preventing early pregnancy. The girls learned about bodily autonomy, their right to say no, how to recognize abuse, and how staying in school empowers them to make decisions about their future.
Additionally, we introduced foundational life skills including self-awareness, decision- making, communication, problem-solving, and confidence-building—reminding the girls that disability is not inability, and that their dreams are valid and achievable.
To support their menstrual health in a practical and immediate way, we provided each of the 49 girls with sanitary pads and underpants. These small items carry a big message: you are valued, your health matters, and you deserve dignity. The response was deeply moving. One participant, Achieng, not her real name, shared, “This is the first time someone has talked to me about periods in a way I can understand. I feel empowered now.” Another, Sharon, not her real name, added, “I now know I can say no when someone tries to touch me wrongly.

“Thank you for teaching me that.”
We were also encouraged by the presence and support of the school staff, who expressed their commitment to continuing this important work by advocating for inclusive, safe, and supportive spaces for girls with disabilities. Their collaboration is vital in ensuring that every girl, regardless of her ability, has the opportunity to flourish and succeed.
At HFAW, we remain steadfast in our belief that every girl deserves safety, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive. Your ongoing support enables us to expand our reach, challenge harmful norms, and equip girls with the tools they need to build confident, healthy lives.
Together, we are creating a future where no girl is left behind.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Doris Kananu
Program Director, HFAW.