Despite a delay of a month due to the sickness of the instructor was hired for the program, the Pad Project has taken off successfully. Currently, 95 girls in both Primary Five and Six are participating in the tailoring lessons every evening after normal class sessions. In addition, every weekend, the tailoring lessons start very early in the morning but in shifts due to the limited sewing machines and small size of the room.
The pilot program currently has 5 sewing machines in place. Our next step is to shift the program to a bigger classroom and install more sewing machines so that we can teach more girls each shift. The larger classroom has been partially constructed, but still needs to be plastered and roofed.
Local women’s groups approached the project leadership team with an overwhelming interest to participate with this Tailoring course in order to help their respective families using the new skills acquired, but at this time there is no capacity beyond the 95 girls currently enrolled. It is part of the Project Plan to enroll local women in the program once there is sufficient capacity.
Another exciting development is that other schools in the surrounding area have also illustrated great interest in this project, both in receiving pad kits for their girls and in eventually starting similar programs.
To learn more about how to help empower girls by keeping them in school and the Pads for Schoolgirls program, click: Empowering Girls
How YOU can Participate
Help empower African girls by participating with the Pads For Schoolgirls Project. Please consider:
- Donate. Donating $20 will supply a girl with a reusable sanitary pad kit. This can be conveniently done by using the Donation Box in the right had column.
- Sign the Petition. Help shift the mindset of the Ugandan Parliament to include funding for feminine hygiene projects for economically disadvantaged to keep them in school. To add your voice, click Sign the Petition.
- Spread the Word. Help get the message out by using your social media networks like Twitter and Facebook. Let your friends know that you are passionate about helping others. For examples, click Spread the Word.
- Make Pad Kits. Give of your time and energy by watching the video and downloading the eBook with the Bill of Materials and patterns to make the reusable sanitary pad kits yourself. Ship them to Humanity Healing International and we will deliver your Labor of Love to a schoolgirl in need. To learn more, visit: Pad Kit Information
