Mariamu started her periods when she was 11 years old in Standard 4 of Primary School. Her school grade dropped significantly, until she was at the bottom of all of her classes. She had started skipping school during her periods, and told us: “I could not go to school on my menstrual days because my mother could not afford to buy me sanitary pads. I was afraid that I would stain my school skirt with blood. I was missing at least 5 days of school every month.”

Mariamu joined the Girls Club in her local school, where an Inclusion Champion taught participants about menstruation and menstrual hygiene, including how to make their own reusable sanitary pads.

In 2024 Mariamu was elected President of her Girls Club, and is looking forward to starting secondary school next year.

Now I can use pads and attend school and classes without being worried. I never missed school again because of my period. I don’t worry now and can pay more attention to my teacher, and my grades have really improved.

Mariamu