About the Project
The project consisted of teaching young mothers the skills to make reusable sanitary pads and supply them to school girls.
Location
Rwimi subcounty, Bunyangabu District, western Uganda
Quick Project Stats
| Funding Date | April 2025 |
| Luena Investment | $1,000 |
| CBO Partner | Katoke Rural Widows and Orphans Association |
| Village | Rwimi subcounty |
| Country | Uganda |
| # of Children Impacted | 594 |
| Community Contribution | health education sessions hosted in schools |
Women and Girls Face Multiple Barriers to Education and Earning a Living
Katoke provides vocational training to help widows and young mothers develop skills that they can use to earn an income. There is a consistent need to identify high-demand skills and to provide materials for use in skills training. At the same time, young girls in Rwimi subcounty are often at risk of dropping out of school, and they may find school attendance particularly difficult when they have their period if there are insufficient sanitation facilities at school or if they can not afford sanitary pads. To address both of these needs, Katoke wanted to teach young mothers to sew reusable sanitary pads that could be distributed to young girls in schools.
Education and Reusable Pads Support Sustainable Menstrual Health
The donation from Luena Foundation was used to purchase sewing materials – including cloth, needles, thread, scissors, and velcro fasteners – and to teach young mothers how to make reusable sanitary pads from these materials. The pads were then distributed to young girls in four primary schools: St. Emaculate Primary, Nyabwina Primary, First Care
Nursery & Primary School, and Gatyanga Primary School. Health education sessions were conducted in all four selected schools, focusing on:
a) Menstrual cycle and hygiene practices
b) Managing menstrual cramps and discomfort
c) Breaking menstrual stigma and myths
d) Proper use and care of reusable sanitary pads
Meet our Partner Community-Based Organization
Katoke Rural Widows and Orphans Association is a nonprofit, community based organization that works primarily to support orphans, widows, and young mothers by providing school materials and training programs to help women develop skills with which they can earn an income.
