"We Promised Them Pads”: A Journey Through Wajir’s Schools
Yesterday, we set out on what we thought would be a typical outreach trip—visiting schools across Wajir to talk about PSEA, career guidance, mental health, and the power of opening up. But what we encountered was far more than we expected. It was a wake-up call. As we moved from one school to another, engaging students in peer-to-peer sessions, we were inspired by their dreams and resilience. We spoke about how to navigate life’s challenges, how to break the silence around mental health, and how to fight stigma—especially in a region where silence often feels safer than speaking out. We visited SABUNLEY BOYS, WAJIR GIRLS AND SENIOR ADAN GIRLS But then, something deeply troubling emerged. In nearly every girls’ school we visited, a painful truth surfaced: menstrual-related stress is silently stealing away the dignity, confidence, and education of our girls. Many of them come from families that can barely afford daily meals, let alone sanitary pads. Some girls miss school during the...