Representatives from Unilever giving out some of the necessities they will be providing to RAHU and AFRIpads Representatives (Photo by Gabriel Buule)
Kampala. According to a survey done by a non- profit organization Reach a Hand Uganda, 22% of school going Uganda girls drop out of schools due to lack of sanitary towels.
Speaking to the press in Kampala, Reach a Hand Uganda programmes officer Helen Patricia Amutuhaire revealed that statistics they have gathered from various regions of the country indicate that several girls choose to drop out of schools due to lack of access to sanitary towels and some can hardly afford to buy them or seek a solution while in their menses. She revealed that the number of school drop outs connected to lack of sanitary towels might rise if stake-holders don’t intervene to seek for a lasting solution.
Amutuhaire revealed this at Unilever offices in Kampala where Reach a Hand Uganda together with Unilever Uganda rolled out a project to provide access to sanitary towels and all other materials used by girls during their menses.
Humphrey Nabimanya, Founder & Team Leader of Reach A Hand Uganda said that Reach a Hand in its bid to mentor the young people to help the young people, has trained over 500 peer educators who will be selling subsidized menstrual aid commodities which will be provided by Unilever and AFRIpads with the profits going to the edu-prenures who are youth who among them dropped out of schools due to lack of what to use during their menstruation periods.
Nabimanya explained that the trained edu-preneurs who will start in Mbarara district will not only extend products to the needy but also train communities in a way of demystifying the negative stereotypes associated with menstruation.
“Since 2014, Reach a Hand Uganda has been training peer educators and one question that we have always asked ourselves is; how can we empower them economically to earn a living out of the voluntary work that they are doing. I am very positive of this partnership where our fast-growing network of young people can be economically empowered and are assured of a start in life, after their volunteering service with us.” Nabimanya explains.
“The peer educators are expected to be given products to which they will sell in communities and get 70% of the profits as a commission this edupreneurship module is intended to primarily increase the scope of earning for young people and strengthen their financial empowerment while also reinforcing the uniqueness and high quality of our products in communities.” Said Grace Nandawula from Unilever.
Gertrude Adeker Emojong, Communications Officer, AFRIpads told the press that their partnership with Reach a Hand Uganda intends to improve the day to day quality of life for young adults, especially young women through easing their access to homestead lifestyle and health commodities.
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