Goal 5 – Gender Equality

Taboos and myths related to menstruation often portray women and girls as inferior to men and boys.  Mothers and daughters live in shame and suffer the consequences of the taboos of their cultures. 

Not only does the stigma and shame of menstruation cloud girls’ self-esteem and society’s view of them but in Kenya, UNICEF reports that 10% of adolescent girls have traded sex for period pads. Our work aims to break the power cycle which leads to sexual violence against girls and women, caused directly by a lack of access to period pads. We do this both through the direct provision of free period pads to schoolgirls and with a growing programme of menstrual health education with our in-country partners.