Every Period Matters

EngenderHealth’s Work Supporting Menstrual Health & Hygiene

End Period Poverty

Meet Kidist

Kidist Alemayehu, an 8th-grade student in Shebe Sombo Woreda, Ethiopia, remembers the confusion of her first menstrual period.

“I was completely shocked when my period started. I had no idea what was happening to me,” Kidist recalls.

In her community, menstruation is rarely discussed, leaving many girls unprepared and ashamed. Lacking accurate information and access to menstrual products, girls often miss school and lose confidence during a critical stage of their education.

With support from EngenderHealth’s REACH project, Kidist joined Life Skills sessions that taught her about menstrual health and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). She gained the knowledge and confidence to talk openly about menstruation and support her peers.

Her school also created a Menstrual Hygiene Room, a safe, private space where girls can access pads, rest, change clothes, or take a shower when needed. This resource allows Kidist and her classmates to continue their education without interruption or stigma.

“Now, I feel more confident,” she says. “I can support my friends, and we no longer have to feel ashamed.”

What is period poverty?

More than 500 million women and girls worldwide lack access to menstrual products, safe facilities, and accurate information. This is called period poverty, and it has devastating effects:

Girls miss school and fall behind in their education.
Women experience stigma, isolation, and discrimination.
Many risk their health and dignity by relying on unsafe alternatives or going without protection.
Menstrual disorders go untreated because stigma prevents open conversation.

Menstrual health and hygiene are not just health issues—they are matters of dignity. Providing women and girls with the resources to manage their periods supports education, health, gender equality, and economic opportunities.

What Your Support Makes Possible

With your support, EngenderHealth advances menstrual health and rights in Ethiopia and around the world by:

Educating schools and communities on menstrual hygiene management and teaching girls how to make reusable pads.
Creating safe, supportive spaces in schools so girls do not have to leave class when their period begins.
Providing menstrual products to tens of thousands of women and girls in schools, prisons, and quarantine centers.
Training healthcare providers to address menstrual pain and disorders as part of quality reproductive healthcare.
Advocating for policies that remove barriers, such as taxes on menstrual products and lack of menstrual leave.

Since 2018, our programs have supported hundreds of thousands of women and girls across Africa and Asia to manage their periods safely, confidently, and with pride.

You Can Be Part of the Change

When you give to EngenderHealth, you are helping girls like Kidist break the silence, stay in school, and thrive with confidence. Together, we can end period poverty and build a world where everyone can manage their menstrual health with confidence.

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