Studies estimate that 95% of female students in Kenya miss 1-3 days of school every month due to their period. More than half of them say that period-related stigma, symptoms, and absenteeism have a negative effect on their grades and educational advancement – a driving force of gender inequality and economic disempowerment.
There are many factors contributing to this reality, among them are 3 A’s:
1. Awareness
Menstruation is still considered taboo – rife with stigma, myth and misinformation. Many girls go their entire adolescence not fully understanding the basics of their menstrual cycle and how to manage it.
2. Affordability
A month of period products like sanitary pads can be expensive for the schoolgirls, leading them to rely on sporadic donations, generous friends, unhygienic materials, or even exploitation to manage their monthly needs.
3. Availability
Many schools lack running water or functional sanitation facilities, and may be located far from shops offering menstrual health and hygiene supplies, limiting girls’ options during their time of the month.
In May 2025, Mosaic issued a call for Kenyan schools interested in hosting a fully sponsored menstrual health educational session for adolescent girls.
Focusing on junior high and secondary schools in 4 nearby counties – Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, and Machakos – the campaign sought to honor Menstrual Health Awareness Month by empowering schoolgirls with knowledge about their menstrual cycle and practical tips and tools to manage it. The campaign mobilized a group of youth educators (for both girls and boys) and Mosaic support staff to lead outreach to each of the schools.
For each school visited, Mosaic’s facilitation and support team came prepared to lead an interactive learning session and a series of giveaways focused on menstrual health and hygiene. For most schools, the session was directed to girls only; however, several schools requested a parallel session on the same topic for boys as well – a positive sign of gender inclusivity.
We set out to reach 1,000 adolescent girls in Kenya with Menstrual health education & solutions in honor of #MHDay2025. After 3 weeks, 4 counties, 18 schools & 1,500+ km, we’re proud to say … we did it!
A HUGE thank you to:
- Our partners Pathways Policy Institute (PPI) Rafikistry TLC FAWE RS for the trust & teamwork
- Our facilitators Claudia Mwangi Sherrine Achieng Grace Munyi Naomi Nyiha Mueni Kioko Judy Githinji Betty Muchiri Njeri Sherry Muthaura Peter Ngure for the incredible leadership & engagement
-School representatives like Pamela Mourine Njeri Kamau Dr Nyokabi Kibuka Teach For Kenya for championing #periodpositivity when & where it’s needed - And most importantly, the 1,029 adolescent girls & 172 adolescent boys we engaged for the curiosity, compassion & enthusiastic participation — who have shown us that a #periodfriendlyworld is indeed possible.
How are you?
Wishing you a happy day, every day!