Beth Warugura on campaigning for young girls through signatures

NAIROBI- Beth Warugura , the founder of  girl aid foundation, created awareness about  the taboos associated with menstruation and lack of sanitary towels by asking willing participants to sign on a wall at Yaya Centre.

Girl aid foundation was founded in 2016 after getting enough funding and the required permits from the government.The  aim of the foundation is to keep girls in school by increasing their  attendance during their menstruation period and reducing the shame that is associated with it.

I met Waruguru on a hot Wednesday afternoon.She spoke about her project with so much hope for the future. She also shared  what inspired her to start the foundation and why she is campaigning for the girl child.

She grew up in a rural area , in South kinangop , central province where she attended primary school. Later on she went to  Kiabi girls high school which is in the same area. After that, She decided to move to Nairobi to study for a course in Journalism. However, she did not get her certificate because she became a parent at twenty years old. Growing up her parents did their best to provide for her.

"I cannot say that I went to school without food , I also cannot say I went to school  without sanitary  towels.My parents were able to provide that.But I could see my fellow students struggle without sanitary towels and others became mothers at a young age simply because they did not have anyone talk them" , she said.

She thought about the challenges that girls go through  and decided that she wanted to give back to the community. Waruguru  said the foundation is non-profit and targets girls from ages 10-25 .Her inspiration comes from the struggles that  she has seen girls go through  research.She wanted to help vulnerable young girls from marginalized communities.

"We realized many girls attend school very well from grade  2 , 3, 4 and 5 but when they reach class 6, 7  and 8 ,they start missing classes due to the shame of getting menstruation". She said.

According to her, during the four days of every month,  girls do not attend classes.When she asked teachers and  pupils why the girls were absent ,they told her that during their menses  many girls cannot afford sanitary towels and prefer staying at home than having an embarrassment leading to low self esteem.

She said , "an empowered girl leads to an empowered society. When you help a lady, you help a whole society to empower themselves and multiply whatever  it is that you have given them".

Waguru runs the program full time. She said , For  a long time girls have been oppressed by culture, gender and easily fall prey of child labor ,early marriages and FGM  there was also sanitation issues that influenced her to form girl aid foundation.

They also speak to young girls on how to tackle womanhood  and what to do when it is time for a relationship and family planing.

"The foundation creates a more dignified , humane and sustainable world for girls through , advocacy,reproductive health awareness ,education and sustainable feminine hygiene care kits sanitary towels", she said.

After giving out the sanitary towels , they talk to the girls and teach them about menstrual hygiene. They teach them about sexual reproductive knowing their bodies .They advice them on topics such as  how  to handle relationships and  body changes during puberty and also  attraction towards  the opposite sex.

She wrote a proposal to Yaya centre on February 2018 to allow the foundation to educate the public and for them to sign on a wall for a natural occurrence that is not spoken of openly in African society. The taboo towards menstruation makes it difficult for girls to concentrate in schools because they have no one to speak to about the issue ,also, they cannot afford a sanitary towel.Girl aid foundation's aim was to motivate well wishers to send in some contributions and donate sanitary towels for girls.

For every signature , Yaya Centre will contribute Kshs.20/- for sanitary pads.If you want to donate to the foundation check out http://girlaidfoundation.org/en/