Invest in Menstrual Health for girls and women

Thank you for your generous support of this project. Brighter Communities Worldwide is dedicated to breaking the taboos surrounding menstruation and raising awareness about the challenges girls and women face when they lack access to education, menstrual products, and proper sanitation facilities.

We work with schools and communities, including boys and men, to deliver workshops on Menstrual Health as well as Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). We incorporate these topics into other programme areas to raise awareness and ensure that all girls and women are included and have access to knowledge, information and resources.  And we provide reusable sanitary kits, teaching participants the skills to make these kits themselves using locally sourced materials. Our locally-led, partnerships based approach prioritises community ownership and sustainable development.

We recently started working with community members from Chepsoo in Ainamoi Sub-county and we asked them to share their thoughts on the menstrual health workshops they participated in.

 “We are happy because Brighter Communities Worldwide has come to our communities, we now know the health of women and girls will improve because of the reusable sanitary towels. We were trained on how to make reusable sanitary towel and we will use the knowledge gained to teach other women and girls to make their own sanitary towels using locally available materials as it is easy, cheap and readily available." 

Each reusable sanitary kit includes underwear, soap, and reusable pads. When women and girls use these kits, they no longer have to stay at home during their period for lack of products.  The kits also contribute to environmental sustainability, as disposable sanitary towels have a negative impact on the environment.

Providing vulnerable girls and women with access to reusable sanitary kits restores their dignity, boosts self-esteem, and enhances hygiene. We are committed to ensuring that no girl or woman should ever miss school or work simply because they lack access to essential sanitary products.

Asante Sana!

Thank you for your donations to this project!  Brighter Communities Worldwide works hard all year round to break the taboos surrounding menstruation and to raise awareness about the challenges facing girls and women when they don’t have access to education, menstrual products and appropriate sanitation facilities.   

 Menstrual Hygiene Day is marked on May 28^th every year (MH Day) is a global advocacy platform that brings together non-profits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector and the media to promote good menstrual health and hygiene (MHH).

More specifically, MH Day aims to –

• Break the taboo around menstrual health and hygiene.
• Raise awareness and shift negative social norms around Menstrual Health and Hygiene.
• Urge leaders to prioritise and act on Menstrual Health and Hygiene at global, national and local levels.

Celebrating the day provides us with the chance to come together to show our commitment towards raising awareness and sharing information about menstrual hygiene. This was very clear during celebrations at Londiani Boys High School on 28^th May 2024 where a total of 616 participants were in attendance (322F, 294 M) gathered for workshops and games, learning about menstrual health, discussing issues, participating in making their own sanitary towels using locally available materials and learning about proper care for the kits.

 The theme for this year’s Menstrual Hygiene day was Together for a “#PeriodFriendlyWorld.”In a #PeriodFriendlyWorld, the stigma and taboo surrounding menstruation are history. It is a world where everyone can access the products, education and infrastructure they need. A world where menstruation is embraced as a natural and integral part of life, rather than shrouded in secrecy and shame. From all over the world, we stand, we work, we fight together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.