The Problem
Period poverty is an epidemic in places where there is a lack of running water, access to menstrual products and sexual and reproductive health education.
PERIOD POVERTY (noun) is a lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, waste management, or a combination of these.
Menstruation misinformation
In Uganda, girls are taught to be ashamed of their menstruation. This stigma has encouraged widespread misconceptions about menstruation and prevents women and girls from knowing and embracing their bodies.
65% of girls think menstration is a disease.
70% of girls believe pain during menstruation is unhealthy.
55% of girls think it is harmful for a woman to run or dance during her period.
Access to education
In Mbale, 99% of schools do not have running water, working toilets, or soap for girls to properly manage their menstrual cycles.
78% of girls miss school because of their period.
88% of girls wanted to buy sanitary products from a store but were unable to.
72% of girls bleed through their clothes because they lack proper menstrual tools.
When girls miss school, they miss out on opportunities.
We call this the cycle of period poverty.
That is where we come in, to break the cycle so girls can bleed with dignity
Reusable Menstrual Pad Program
ACESO's flagship program is the I Am A Girl Reusable Menstrual Pad initiative. Our dedicated team of trained clinical staff traverses the heartlands of Eastern Uganda to conduct empowering Reusable Pad Workshops in schools and communities. Our mission is to eliminate the 11% absenteeism among school girls due to menstruation, ensuring a zero percent rate.
We cover three important things:
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Create a safe space for girls to have open and honest talks about their bodies.
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Remove the stigma around menstruation.
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Give girls the knowledge and materials to make effective reusable pads and manage their periods economically.
During these transformative training sessions, we furnish girls with all the necessary materials, from water-resistant fabric and snaps to sewing machines. Each participant leaves the workshop with three skillfully crafted reusable pads and gains access to ACESO's equipment and services for ongoing support.
The Impact you make possible
Here are the tangible ways you can help.
Our I Am A Girl Reusable Menstrual Pad program is a transformative initiative. A $20 donation covers the essential water-resistant materials for pad production, while $150 funds comprehensive training for an entire school of girls. Empower change today — support us in keeping girls in school.