In 2006, Procter and Gamble together with the Government of Kenya as well as other partners came together and decided to find a way to improve the lives of Kenyan girls by providing them with free Always sanitary towels as well as educate them on puberty. This came after a research done indicated that over 500,000 girls missed school due to monthly periods, lack of sanitary towels and lack of education on the same. And therefore the main aim was to ensure that no more girls missed school due to monthly periods as well as offering them equal opportunities with the boys in terms of education.
In the last 10 years, the program has managed to reach over 100,000 girls and given out over 8 million pads, in a society where no one was able to talk openly about issues of menstruation. Many girls, especially those who are in marginalized areas don’t have access to information concerning menstruation until they receive their first period and this impacts them negatively. It does not help that the topic is taboo in many societies and so families are unable to discuss it.
Since the start of the program, reports on the impact of Always Keeping Girls in School Programme, conducted in Isiolo, Siaya, Kajiado, Marsabit, Samburu, Laikipia, Nyandarua and Narok show significant improvement by girls in terms of school attendance, confidence in saving and money management, comfort in discussing sensitive topics with family members, confidence in refusing unwanted sexual advances, and academic performance in national exams.
In the last one month, Proctor and Gamble has been running an Always Instore campaign whereby for every packet of Always that shoppers buy at supermarkets throughout the country, the company matches that and donates one. All the donated pads will then go towards free distribution of sanitary pads in the Keeping Girls In School Campaign.
As you do your shopping, pick a packet of Always pads and know that you’re helping in securing the menstrual health and education of a disadvantaged girl in the country.