Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), through its flagship #AchieveMoreGirl initiative has provided over 1,100 girls from Kilifi County with access to quality reusable menstrual health products.
This is a culmination of its countrywide effort that has seen 5,000 school girls receive reusable menstrual kits in 2023, including girls from Narok, Homabay and Nyandarua counties.
The roll out of the initiative in Kilifi County is informed by its low transition rates from primary to secondary and secondary to tertiary levels of education. This has led to early and unintended teenage pregnancies impeding girls’ education.
Speaking at the event, Mustaq Dar, DTB Mombasa corporate Chief Manager noted that “Our presence here today is informed by the high levels of poverty within Kilifi’s population which has led to a high number of school-drop outs. This correlates with the high rates of teenage pregnancies that forces many girls to abandon their education.”
“As such, the #AchieveMoreGirl initiative is an all-inclusive effort that aims to boost the retention of girls in school by providing them with sustainable menstrual kits, mentorship and counselling to reduce their vulnerability to external pressures that might keep them away from their education.” He added.
On her part, Prudence Kwekwe, Kilifi County Chief Youth and Gender Officer said that “The effort today is in line with the County’s Quality Education pillar that seeks to improve the learning environment for the children in this county. Girls are a priority as we seek to reduce teen pregnancies and early marriage.”
The handover kicked off at Ng’ombeni Girls Secondary School, in Kilifi, caried out in partnership with Together for Better Foundation, founded by Aruna Varsani.
The #AchieveMoreGirl initiative was created in 2020, when the bank invested KSh 50 million to support 30,000 schoolgirls from vulnerable communities to access quality menstrual health products over five years. So far, over 18,000 girls have benefited from this effort, which has reduced school absenteeism among adolescent girls and improved their access to quality education.
The #AchieveMoreGirl initiative aligns with DTB’s corporate citizenship agenda and commitments to support the communities it operates in.