Marion, a recipient of Luena Foundation’s Young Changemaker’s Grant, used her funding to address the significant barriers to education that girls face in her community by purchasing sewing machines, materials for reusable pads, and school supplies. Her initiative helps girls stay in school by improving menstrual hygiene and reducing financial burdens.
Meet Marion, a member of our
Many Barriers to Education for Girls in Rural Communities
There has been a big challenge with educating the girl child in Africa because boys traditionally have been considered more useful than girls. There have been improvements in education for girls as projects and organizations who fought tirelessly for the rights of a girl child. However, girls in rural villages are still at high risk of dropping out of school as most of the come from less privileged families which cannot afford life necessities, including school expenses. It is particularly challenging for girls to attend school if there are insufficient sanitation facilities available when they have their period. In addition, poor waste management at school facilities leads to environmental degradation.
Becoming a Luena Changemaker
Marion applied for and was awarded a Young Changemaker’s Grant from Luena Foundation which gave her the opportunity to help girls in these rural communities improve their education by reducing some of the barriers to school attendance.
The donation from Luena Foundation was used to buy sewing machines and the different material used in making the reusable pads as well as some scholastic materials. Both the pads and the scholastic materials were distributed to girls in schools and villages, which supports them in returning and staying in school.
“I wanted to give girls the chance to stay in school without fear or shame. With the right support, we can break barriers and create a future where every girl has the opportunity to learn and thrive.”
Check Out Stories of Other Young Changemakers
Join Our Unicorn Crew
