Girls from 7 schools in Njoro sub county were on Wednesday February 19, 2025 trained on menstrual hygiene management courtesy of HEART Africa Organization.
The schools include Sinendet, Kariaini, Mugumo, Muthiga, Keriko Secondary, Naishi, and Keriko Comprehensive School.
The training that commences with a devotion owing to the fact that HEART Africa Organization is a Christian-based, involves sensitizing the girls to understand more on the menstrual hygiene, HIV, drugs and substance use and how to take care of their bodies.
This training is under ‘Freedom for Girls Program’ by HEART Africa Organization.
The Program’s Coordinator Ms Sally Kamau who took the girls through the training, pointed out that the program is key in ensuring girls have a brighter future.
Speaking at Keriko Secondary where the girls from the 7 schools congregated, Sally reiterated the need for girl talk to be embraced in schools as it helps end stigma around menstrual cycle.
She added that this also boosts the confidence of girls in schools resulting to good performance academics.
“We do this training for girls under the ‘Freedom for Girls’ Project. We want to ensure that girls understand about their bodies and how to manage menstrual hygiene,” she stated.
During the distribution and training session at Keriko Secondary School, Rotarian James Yegon, who is also the Director of SOAR Kenya Academy, echoed the words of the late Nelson Mandela: “The only weapon to end poverty is education.”
He therefore requested well-wishers to help educate the girl child in order to break the gap of inequality in education.
On Thursday February 20, 2025, the team from HEART Africa Organization visited Kelelwet Comprehensive School where over 30 girls were taken through the Menstrual hygiene Management training.
The girls had been receiving training at Soar Kenya Academy in Barut, but this time round the team from HEART Africa Organization decided to hold the training at the school.
Ms Sally lauded the school for having in place a system to collect data on the ongoing program of distribution of free sanitary pads by HEART Africa Organization in partnership with other well-wishers.
She noted that the system is key in doing a follow-up on how girls are managing their menstrual hygiene.
“As an organization, we are very proud of this school and more so the system of data collection for the girls on matters menstrual hygiene. This helps a lot in tracking and monitoring the girls,” she stated.
Ms Beatrice Mukasa- a teacher at Kelelwet Comprehensive School lauded HEART Africa Organization for the program.
According to her, the program has really helped ensure girls remain in schools during their menstrual cycle.
“Many of my girls used to miss schools due to the stigma around menstrual cycle and shame due to lack of the pads. We really want to thank HEART Africa Organization for the program,” she stated.
On Friday February 21, 2025, the team from HEART Africa Organization finalized their activities in Nakuru by visiting Parkview Comprehensive School.
At the school, 50 girls were taken through menstrual hygiene management training.
Ms Sally noted that the school that is next to the Lake Nakuru National Park is in dire need, as access to sanitary pads still remains a challenge.
She used the opportunity to challenge the girls not to allow their humble background deter them from focusing on their studies.
“We want these girls to remain focused so that they can change the status of their lives in future and give some hope to their families,” she stated.
School’s Deputy Headteacher George Makori lauded HEART Africa Organization for donating the sanitary pads to the girls.
According to him, the girls will now focus on their studies having received the pads that will see them through a year.
It should be noted that HEART Africa Organization runs various programs with signature program being Women Equality Empowerment Program that caters for health and wellness of single HIV positive mothers and their households.
HEART’s vision is to radically improve the quality of life, of HIV positive single mothers and their children in a Christ-centred way.
The ‘Freedom for Girls Program’ has been instrumental in hygiene for girls and even during their menstrual cycle through the free sanitary packs donations to various schools.
The Organization has for the last 14 years been working closely with Rotary club of Walworth, Steve and Patricia Werner- a partnership that has impacted over 2000 girls per year under the leadership of Rotarian James Yegon(Director SOAR Kenya Academy, Barut Nakuru).
