Dignity Kits Help Girls Stay in School in Mtwara, Nanyamba and Tandahimba

For many adolescent girls in rural Mtwara, a monthly period can mean missed lessons. Without underwear, soap or sanitary materials, some girls stay at home for several days each month, fall behind in class and, over time, are at greater risk of dropping out of school altogether. Shame, teasing and a lack of private facilities make the challenge even harder.

To help girls manage their periods safely and with dignity, BAKAID Tanzania, with support from Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), has distributed Dignity Sanitary Kits to girls in 10 schools in wards of Mtwara District Council, Nanyamba Town Council and Tandahimba District Council.

What is in a Dignity Kit?

Each kit contains the basic items a girl needs to stay clean, comfortable and confident during her period:

• Two pairs of underwear
• Soap for personal hygiene and for washing the pads
• Reusable sanitary pads that can be washed, dried and used safely for many months

Because the pads are reusable, a single kit continues to support a girl long after the distribution day. This lowers the monthly cost for families and reduces the waste created by disposable products.

Keeping girls in the classroom

The main aim of the distribution is simple: no girl should miss school because of her period. When girls have the materials they need, they can attend lessons every day of the month, take part in class and sports with confidence, and stay on track to complete their education.

The distribution also opened conversations about menstrual health. Girls were shown how to use, wash and dry the reusable pads hygienically, and were encouraged to see menstruation as a normal and healthy part of growing up, not something to be ashamed of.

Part of a wider effort to protect girls

The Dignity Kits complement BAKAID’s NCA-supported work on gender-based violence prevention and girls’ empowerment in Mtwara Region. Girls who stay in school are better protected from early marriage, early pregnancy and exploitation, and are more likely to build a healthy and independent future. Working with schools, teachers, parents and local government, BAKAID continues to promote safe, supportive learning environments where every girl can thrive.

BAKAID Tanzania thanks Norwegian Church Aid for its partnership, and the school leaders, teachers and ward and district officials in Mtwara DC, Nanyamba and Tandahimba for their cooperation in making this distribution a success.