Isiolo youths to give sanitary towels to 10,000 girls
Some of the 300 girls from Burat Ward in Isiolo County who received sanitary towels from Drop of Dignity youth group on September 19, 2020.
What you need to know:
- The group brings together about 50 young men and women.
- The youths on Saturday distributed sanitary pads worth Sh70,000 to 300 girls and 50 young mothers in Burat Ward.
- The beneficiaries also received soap, with young mothers also getting diapers for their children.
- The mothers appealed to the county government to come up with women empowerment programmes.
As the government prepares for the reopening of schools, many parents in Isiolo continue to struggle to provide their children with basic needs, some of which they were getting while learning before they were sent home in mid-March following the outbreak of Covid-19.
Among the supplies children used to get in school were sanitary towels.
A group of youth has now rolled out a mobilisation campaign to ensure girls get the sanitary towels regularly “so that they maintain their dignity”.
Through Hifadhi Hadhi campaign, the youths, under the Drop of Dignity group have been putting together resources through online platforms, appeals to local NGOs and shops owners in Isiolo town and its outskirts.
The group brings together about 50 young men and women from Dress of Change, Isiolo TV, Every Girl’s Dream, Next Generation Mfinyanzi Youth Group, NIBC Entertainment and Baliti FM, among others, which are all involved in girl child empowerment.
“We resolved to come together, pool and mobilise resources to assist our girls who have not been getting regular supplies of pads, which exposes them to a lot of risks,” said the group’s secretary, Ms Zeitun Abdullahi.
Some members of Drop of Dignity youth group.
Two-month supply
From their first campaign, which took them a month and two weeks, the youths on Saturday distributed sanitary pads worth Sh70,000 to 300 girls and 50 young mothers in Burat Ward. The supplies are expected to last two months.
The beneficiaries also received soap, with young mothers also getting diapers for their children.
Apart from the contributions they have been getting from well-wishers, the youth also sell branded T-shirts and wrist bands to raise money.
They have also been doing door-to-door sensitisation campaigns on menstrual health in the villages.
Among the young mothers who benefited from the donations is Ms Mariam Mohammed and Ms Esther Ngiria, who struggle to get casual jobs to provide for their young families.
“We are so happy for the pads and diapers for our children,” said an elated Ms Mikelina Lepon after the distribution at Kilimani Primary School last Saturday.
Some of the 50 young mothers who received sanitary towels and diapers for their children.
Empowerment programmes
While decrying the biting effects of the coronavirus, the mothers appealed to the county government to come up with women empowerment programmes to help improve livelihoods in Isiolo.
The youths want to reach 10,000 girls from vulnerable families across the county’s 10 wards.
“We are determined to help the girls maintain their dignity and we will not stop until we reach out to 1,000 girls in every ward,” said a member of the group, Mr Moses Thuranira.
“It is not bad to ask for help from various institutions but with what we have done, it is evident that we all can do something and make our county great,” said Mr Boniface Muhuha, the chairman of the Next Generation Mfinyanzi Youth Group.
The campaign has warmed the hearts of many residents who have praised the group for the kind gesture.
“If such a small group can mobilise resources and assist hundreds of girls, what of our leaders and the county government?” asked Mr Musa Abdullahi on Facebook.
