How IRFF UK helps

IRFF UK has launched the following three projects with more planned towards the end of 2023

Ghana

WAIT Ghana
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Meet the project

WAIT Ghana developed and implemented a period poverty project in January 2023. In addition to providing purity education to help young people avoid catching HIV/AIDS, they began distributing reusable pads and providing menstrual health education.

The Problem

Young girls have no access to menstrual products or education on personal hygiene. Girls end up missing school or dropping out altogether adversely affecting their education and future opportunities. This can then have long-term consequences for their lives and their communities (Africa Blogging, 2023).

Solution

Provide access to menstrual hygiene products and education to reduce the stigma around menstruation.

What is offered

Although we do not yet have the numbers, this project educates girls on menstrual health and supplies them with reusable pads (which can last anywhere from 6 months to 4 years).
The project coordinator, Vivian, makes the reusable pads and plans on providing educational activities in several communities north of Accra. They buy the items and fabrics needed, running the projects and activities themselves.
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This work runs parallel to the vocational training work also being coordinated, involving seven girls learning about pastry/cake decoration and bread making or dress-making in the first half of 2023.

How IRFF UK contributes

Funded by IRFF UK, each reusable pad costs about £1 to make. Each girl will need around 5-6 pads for day and night use, allowing for washing in between.
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Through your support, we can provide more reusable pads for girls in need.

Comments from the field

I realise that it is very important for those in the villages.
They were so excited and happy.

How you can help

£8 buys sufficient reusable pads for one girl for one year.We currently support 200 girls per month but the more income we have the more we can support.
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Would you like to support one more girl for one year for £8 or even two more girls for £16?
100% of any new donations goes straight to the project.

South Africa

Walmer Primary School
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Meet the project

In February this year, a period poverty project was launched at Walmer Primary School.

The Problem

Walmer Park Primary School students come from hugely disadvantaged backgrounds, where necessities like sanitary towels are unaffordable, so they are forced to make do with toilet paper or old rags.

Solution

Provide sanitary pads and menstrual health education to the young girls unable to access this elsewhere.

What is offered

Nurse Jessica Bredenkamp provides menstrual health education to the girls at Walmer Primary School. Due to the drastic lack of water locally, reusable pads are not an option, unlike in other countries we support, but this may change. However, advice on environmentally responsible disposal of used pads is provided.
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The importance of sanitary towels, personal hygiene and issues around teenage pregnancies, rape, gender-based violence, and more are discussed.
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Every month, social worker Sarah Fina hands out two packets of 10 pads to each girl in Grade 6.

How IRFF UK contributes

IRFF UK is relied on to finance the local purchase of disposable pads. Nearly 700 packs of Destiny Everyday Pads were purchased in aid of the girls attending Walmer Park Primary School and stocks are replenished as required.
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A local Jewish Women’s group and motorbike club have already offered some donations towards funding the project.
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Although this project is funded for the year, your support allows us to increase the number of girls we are aiding.

Comments from the field

The grade 7's were lined up, each child received 2 packets, and had to sign for them. Some girls were excited, others shy, and also very thankful.
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I thank you for your continued support. You are all helping us to change lives.

How you can help

£1 buys 20 Destiny Everyday Pads (disposable) enough for one girl for one month.We currently support 200 girls per month but the more income we have the more we can support.
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Would you like to support 5 more girls for £5/month or 10 more girls for £10/month?
100% of any new donations goes straight to the project.

Uganda

‘Girl Child’ Project (Girl Health & Support)
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Meet the project

In 2023, Jesca Nakamayisa, the headmistress of Destiny Junior School, formulated and produced a plan to run period poverty projects and purity education in her local area.

The Problem

According to the European Journal of Public Health (2020), there is a lack of sanitation products, inadequate education and stigma around menstruation which negatively impact female education. Menstruating students miss up to 18% of a school year.

Solution

Providing access to sanitary products and education to tackle period poverty and improve women’s health and female education.

What is offered

Jesca saw the need for the ‘Girl Child’ project to be set up in her school and nearby schools: Busambala Primary School, Bright Land High School Namagoma, and African Secondary School Kibiri.
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This project has actioned several short-term steps with longer-term goals in planning e.g. teaching trainers and promoting ‘Girl Child’ empowerment programmes.
1. Setting up ‘Girl Child’ clubs in schools
2. Providing education on personal hygiene and reproductive health
3. Empowering and sensitively counselling girls while monitoring progress
4. ‘Girl Child’ seminars and workshops for teachers and student leaders
5. Talks on reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention, sensitisation of the topic, and care
6. Set up community ‘Girl Child’ programmes, especially to empower and teach girls who dropped out of school due to early pregnancy
7. Showcase ‘Girl Child’ activities on the radio and TV

How IRFF UK contributes

IRFF UK has funded the ‘Girl Child’ (Girl Health & Support) project since 2015. The new initiative by Jesca in 2023 is based on her deep concern for the older girls in her Primary School (about 30 girls altogether), keeping then safe from early pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and poor menstrual health.

Comments from the field

As the Girl Child Project (U) team, we are so appreciative of the Board of Trustees of IRFF (UK) for the support given to facilitate the Reproductive and Hygiene/ Health programs in these vulnerable groups of the poor community in Uganda; this gives hope to the young children that there is hope for the future.
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We continue to register a positive mind-set change and attitude towards better health and good sanitary issues with provision of the pads.The confidence and self esteem of the young girls is improving; attendance and concentration in school has improved.
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We at IRFF could not be happier that a few pounds per month can change the lives of 180 girls in Uganda like this, almost like they are own daughters.

How can you help?

£0.60 buys two packs of Makapads (disposable), enough for one girl for one month.We currently support 180 girls per month but the more income we have the more we can support.
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Would you like to support 8 more girls for £5/month or 16 more girls for £10/month?
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100% of any new donations goes straight to the project.

Period Poverty

Breaking down the barriers of period poverty

How IRFF UK helps

Ghana

WAIT Ghana
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South Africa

Walmer Primary School
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Uganda

‘Girl Child’ Project (Girl Health & Support)
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Here are some statistics related to period poverty

The Crisis

Get Involved

Stories

Stay Up To Date

Contact Us

Period Poverty

Breaking down the barriers of period poverty

How IRFF UK helps

Ghana

WAIT Ghana‍

South Africa

Walmer Primary School‍

Uganda

‘Girl Child’ Project (Girl Health & Support)‍

Here are some statistics related to period poverty

The Crisis

Get Involved

Stories

Stay Up To Date

Contact Us

WAIT Ghana
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Walmer Primary School
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‘Girl Child’ Project (Girl Health & Support)
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