MENSTRUATION HYGIENE DAY” DADA Pads Drive”

The Women and girls in the Maasai community disproportionately face a diverse range of sociocultural and environmental challenges like; FGM, teenage pregnancies and child marriages, sexual assault, Climate hazards, under representation in leadership, politics and employment, disinheritance, and discrimination. In light of this. there is a need to have a discussion around “telling her story”. Dada Digital Initiative has taken the challenge to fill the gap.

By “telling her story” we are trying to reach as many people as possible with information and topical issues around women with an aim to bring to light the plight of women from underserved communities with a view to empower and uplift them. This is in line with Sustainable Development Goal number 5 which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030.

Kajiado West Sub County, specifically Magadi Ward is leading in school dropouts and young girls are not able to continue with education due to period poverty contributing to high rates of teenage pregnancies. In March this year, The Kenya Human Rights Commission issued a red card to Kajiado County among others with highest per capita teenage pregnancies in Kenya at 21.8% (KHRC RED CARD 2024)

About 444 girls drop out of school every year due to teenage pregnancy. Challenges regarding access to menstrual products are rampant and are linked to girls dropping out of school, teenage pregnancy, early marriages and FGM. This risks the young girls well-being by increasing the statistics of teenage pregnancy highlighting the urgent call for action.

Responding to this problem, Dada Digital Initiative together with other stakeholders has organized a drive dubbed DADA PADS DRIVE aimed at collecting and distributing sanitary towels to school going girls and women around the Naserian Primary School community. Although this will not totally eradicate the period poverty, it is a step in the right direction to not only create awareness but also meet some of the needs in that community.

As the world marks this year’s INTERNTIONAL MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY, on 28th May, We plan to hold the DADA PADS DRIVE event at Naserian Primary School. The project is targeting two schools, Naserian Primary School and Eroret Primary and Junior Secondary schools in Magadi Ward. We target 100 girls from both schools and about 100 women from the community.

We plan to create awareness on period poverty, distribute books and some reading material and have talks to mentor the young girls to encourage them to focus on their education and not succumb to early marriages and teenage pregnancy.

The project’s objectives:

• Break the taboos and end stigma surrounding menstruation.
• End Period poverty
• Raise awareness about the challenges regarding access to menstrual products and education about menstruation.
• Mobilize resources required for action at scale.

Through these efforts, Dada Digital is committed to making a tangible difference to the overarching goal which is to build a world where no one is held back because they menstruate by 2030.

To make this event a success, Dada Digital Initiative, invites support from partners and well-wishers. The following are the areas of support:

1. In-kind Contributions
2. Sponsorship of the Event
3. Financial Support
4. Creating awareness and fundraising

By joining us in these support areas, together we can make a significant difference in the lives of these women and girls.

PAYMENT DETAILS.

Kind monetary support can be channeled through the following paybill.

PAYBILL:  522533

ACCOUNT: 9000 656

NAME: DADA DIGITAL INITIATIVE