1,500 schoolgirls from Kwale county are set to benefit from Diamond Trust Bank’s (DTB) ‘Achieve More Girl’ initiative, a flagship multi-year programme aimed at empowering schoolgirls by providing access to quality reusable menstrual health products.
This year, in partnership with the Together for Better Foundation, the programme targets to provide 6,000 primary and secondary schoolgirls from Kwale, Bungoma, Machakos and Nakuru counties with sustainable menstrual health kits and hygiene training, thus continuing access to education. This is through supporting 1,500 schoolgirls per county from various schools, including schools for disabled students.
This year, the programme launch was held in Kwale Girls High School, and graced by Her Excellency Kwale County Governor, Fatuma Mohamed Achani. Speaking about the initiative, DTB Group Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Nasim Devji, reaffirmed DTB’s commitment to ensure that all schoolgirls, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, can pursue their education without interruption or stigmatisation.
“As a bank driven by our purpose of improving the quality of lives in our local communities, we are happy to be working alongside likeminded partners including our county governments to ensure that we reach as many girls as possible. We envision a world where every girl can learn, play, and safeguard her own health without experiencing stress, shame, or unnecessary barriers to information or supplies during menstruation” added Ms. Devji.
On her part, Kwale County Governor Fatuma Mohamed Achani said, “We are proud of these efforts to increase retention of girls in school, as it is in line with wider County government’s efforts to enhance access to quality education in the county as we seek to cultivate a knowledge-based economy.”
DTB launched its ‘Achieve More Girl’ initiative in 2020, by committing Kshs. 50 million to support 30,000 schoolgirls access quality menstrual products over a five-year period. This anchor programme aims to tackle the crucial challenge of limited access to menstrual health products which limits the education of young girls in marginalised communities.
So far, the bank has reached 18,000 schoolgirls from 16 counties across the country through strategic partnerships with various organisations and community groups, with a central objective to reduce school absenteeism due to menstruation-related challenges.
The programme also provides training workshops to teach women and men how to produce reusable menstrual products, and mentorship to both girls and boys, in a bid to improve their knowledge of menstrual health hygiene and reduce the peer stigma associated with menstruation.
Last year, 5,000 schoolgirls from Narok, Homa Bay, Kilifi, and Nyandarua counties received reusable menstrual kits under the programme. As a result, these counties have seen a tremendous decrease in school absenteeism and an increase in school performance.
The ‘Achieve More Girl’ initiative is aligned with DTB’s Sustainability and Citizenship agenda, and three of the Bank’s adopted Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs); quality education, good health and wellbeing and gender equality, addressing the critical need where the Bank strives to uplift not only the lives of young girls, but also the communities they are an integral part of.