Reusable Menstrual Pads for Girls in Rwanda

About this Project

Upon the onset of menstruation, girls and boys begin to exhibit very different school attendance rates in Rwanda. Girls who are menstruating miss nearly two months of school of year because they lack sanitary supplies to manage their menstrual cycle. The more girls miss school, the more likely they are to abandon school. This limits social, academic, and professional opportunities for girls and contributes to gender inequality. This project proposes the creation of a menstruation workshop for adolescents. This workshop will teach girls how to fashion their own reusable menstrual pads, allowing them to manage their periods and stay in class more often. This will likely increase their life outcomes and their ability to achieve social mobility.