Korongon Secondary School Kilimanjaro Region

A community trainer Ms Yunge, explaining about general cleaniness for girls _ Dodoma schoo

In rural Tanzania, where access to essential resources like sanitary products is limited, adolescent girls often face significant barriers to education.

This is especially true for students at Korongon Secondary School in the Kilimanjaro region, where many girls struggle with menstrual health and hygiene due to a lack of facilities and support. The Comfy Care12 team visited these students to provide much-needed support and education for 55 adolescent girls at the school, helping to break down these barriers and empowering the next generation of women.

For many young girls in rural Tanzania, menstruation is a major challenge that disrupts their education. Due to the absence of affordable sanitary products, girls often miss school during their menstrual periods. They are forced to go home, losing valuable learning time and often falling behind in their studies. The issue is compounded by cultural taboos and the stigma surrounding menstruation, which make it even more difficult for girls to seek help or talk openly about their needs.

The Comfy Care12 team provided the girls with reusable sanitary pads and underwear, along with essential menstrual health education.

Samia, a Form Four student at Korongon Secondary School, expressed her gratitude at the end of the session, saying, "We feel greatly supported, and we request if you have more pads left, please help us add them to our school first aid kit, as I know it will be useful to one of us at some point." Her words reflect the deep impact of this intervention, as the girls now feel more equipped and supported in managing their menstrual health.

This project was proudly funded by the Anannke Foundation, which is committed to changing the world through education and improving the lives of young women and girls.

By providing menstrual health education and reusable sanitary products, Comfy Care12 and its partners are helping to break the cycle of poverty. Educating young girls about menstrual hygiene not only empowers them to continue their education but also helps to foster self-esteem, confidence, and better health. Ensuring that these girls can stay in school without the fear of missing classes due to menstruation is a vital step toward creating a brighter, more equitable future for all.

Through initiatives like these, we can work together to break the stigma, provide lasting solutions, and empower young girls to reach their full potential.