Restoring period dignity to needy rural girls

Most women in rural areas still struggle to access sanitary pads, with a majority unable to afford the conventional sanitary pads.
A few girls in Busia County are, however, lucky thanks to the efforts of 26-year-old Karen Ondwasi. The Communication and Public Relations graduate from Moi University, helps hundreds of poor girls to stay in school through her Zero Stains Foundation.
Statistics show that about 65 per cent of women and girls in the country, cannot access sanitary pads, implying that a school girl misses five school days a month.
This is what triggered Ms Ondwasi to start an initiative to support less fortunate girls in Nambale, with sanitary towels to avoid the stigma and humiliation they undergo in school during their menses.
“I started Zero Stains in 2016 while still in campus. Zero Stains is a platform through which young women and girls get mentorship and support to reach their potential.
“As the name suggests, we are keen on cleaning all the 'stains ' girls encounter. I have brought six my friends into this initiative to help young girls who cannot afford pads,
“This is not only menstrual stains but also cultural stains that are discriminatory and put women down all the time,” explains Ms Ondwasi.

FEATHERS AND SAND

She says the idea of her initiative came up after a story was aired on a local television station about girls using feathers and sand during their menses.
“After watching that disturbing news, my friends and I at Moi University main campus, decided to do something about it. We quickly drafted the idea went to the University Radio Station (MU FM)) and announced a campaign to collect sanitary towels. I never stopped there, I continued with it to date,” says Ms Ondwasi, who is also the chairperson of the African Gender is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC).
Her foundation also mentors girls in primary and secondary schools on how to handle ‘stains’ of sexual violence and abuse that lowers girls' esteem.
To realise her dream, she works closely with local community members such as head teachers, church leaders and youths, to identify girls in dire needs of sanitary pads.
Women start menstruating from around the age of 13. That means an average woman endures 456 periods over 38 years. Experts recommend that one changes pads every four to eight hours.
A box containing eight pads costs about Sh80 at any supermarket in the country. If a girl changes a pad every six hours, she requires four per day. In five days, she will need a total of 20 pads, something most families, especially in rural Kenya, cannot afford.

And so Ms Ondwasi currently supports 150 needy girls in Manyole, Mabunge, Lwanyange, Kisoko, Syekunya, Busibwabo, Malanga and Nasira villages in Nambale sub-county.
“I donate sanitary towels at the end of every year during the annual mentorship camp. I give them enough to last half the following year. This gives me ample time to solicit support for the remaining part of the year. I also do random donations during the term whenever I receive support during the year,” discloses Ms Ondwasi.

EIGHT BOXES

She points out her friends and family as having played a significant role in building the initiative since they donate sanitary towels every year. Busia County representatives also support her once in a while. She sometimes uses her savings to support an initiative that is close to her heart. The 150 girls get eight boxes of the sanitary towel and two panties each.
“An affordable pack goes for Sh50 at wholesale price. So with Sh600 a girl can be sorted the whole year. My annual budget is Sh120,000 inclusive of panties,” she reveals.
When she started the initiative, she noted that some girls would be given the pads and they tell her they don’t have panties to put the pad on. Another challenge, she says, is that some of the girls are from humble backgrounds and so whenever they get the pads, they sell them to get money perhaps for upkeep.
“Before Zero Stains started offering support, some parents would buy their daughters insufficient sanitary pads. Others would use old clothes and blanket cuttings,” narrates Ms Ondwasi.
President Uhuru Kenyatta signed a law requiring the government to provide sufficient and quality sanitary towels to every girl enrolled in a public basic education institution who has reached puberty, for free.
The Basic Education (Amendment) Act, 2017, further says the government will provide a safe and environmentally sound mechanism for disposal of the sanitary towels.