Access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, waste management or a combination of these are as important as Quality Education.

Out of the 10.5 million out-of-school children, girls make up 60% of the figure, in Nigeria, and one of the leading factors of girls’ absenteeism from school is period poverty. 

Largely, a handful of girls in rural communities in addition to the inability to afford the high cost of sanitary pads, have little or no information on how to handle menstrual matters such as cramps, emotions & hygiene, and these often lead to social stigma and shame, hence, girls tend to stay off school during their period than on other days.

In tackling this unattended-to issue, the Uyo Global Shapers Hub partners with a community development organization (Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara Partnership Project) to flag off the SCHOOL CLEAN UP / MENSTRUAL HYGIENE (#PADMYFUTURE) PROGRAM. The program is estimated to reach about 6,000 school girls in over Eight Schools across the two communities, with an aim to raising awareness and taking action on issues bothering the Climate in support of SDG13 while making Menstrual Hygiene Education and Products available to school girls, and engaging the boys in period conversations to reduce by 65% the social stigma and give rise to boys supporting their girl’s counterpart during their cycle. To include; understanding why a girl may behave a certain way during her cycle, how they can support her, and accommodate those who may not have sufficient information on their first period, by purchasing her a menstrual pad.