One Dignity Pack at a Time: How Mount Kenya Trust is Building a Period-Friendly World .

Maryanne Kuria
May 28
5 min read

Every year on May 28th, the world comes together to observe Menstrual Hygiene Day. This significant day raises awareness, breaks the stigma surrounding menstruation, and unites us in collective action to ensure that no girl or woman is held back by her period. This year's theme, "Together for a Period-Friendly World," resonates deeply with our mission.

A 2017 study on reducing barriers to primary school education for girls in rural Kenya through reusable pad interventions found that 95% of menstruating girls missed one to three school days. Additionally, 70% reported negative impacts on their grades, and over 50% fell behind in school due to menstruation (Mucherah and Thomas, 2017). Many girls, affected by poverty, resort to unsafe alternatives for menstrual hygiene, which lead to health risks and, in some cases, transactional relationships for sanitary towels, contributing to high adolescent pregnancy rates. Recognising these challenges, MKT initiated the Menstrual Health Hygiene ( MHH) program to promote period dignity in schoolgirls from vulnerable communities living along the Mt. Kenya Ecosystem.

This month, Mount Kenya Trust proudly launched the Menstrual Health Hygiene ( MHH) Program in Meru County in a distribution activity involving 3 schools at Ruiga Mixed Secondary School. This was possible due to support from our committed partners- Chase Africa, Sukuma Twende, Paddy & Scotts, Binti Mwangaza, the Ministry of Health & Ministry of Education. We successfully distributed our first 500 dignity packs to school-going girls from Ruiga Primary, Ruiga Mixed and Ruiga Highschool. Each pack includes reusable sanitary pads, underwear, soap, and a menstrual health manual. The reusable pads are sustainably produced at our Ndiine site, where we trained local women to manufacture them, supporting both the program and the women’s livelihoods.

Each dignity pack comes with - 6 reusable pads, underwear , soap & a user manual.

Our MHH program aims to distribute 1,500 dignity packs annually, with a significant anticipated impact on girls' lives in Meru County. Mount Kenya Trust aims to address the critical need for menstrual products by providing essential menstrual hygiene supplies, significantly enhancing the girls' dignity and confidence. Access to quality reusable sanitary pads will allow them to attend school without worrying about embarrassment or interruptions caused by their menstrual cycles. This initiative is also expected to improve school attendance and engagement in educational activities, ultimately empowering these girls to focus on their studies and future aspirations.

The launch event was more than just a distribution; it marked a personal milestone for all involved. Our Community Health Project Manager, Ketty Gitonga, delivered a passionate speech that reminded us of the significance of our work. We share her words in their entirety; they capture the essence of our mission.

Speech by MKT Community Health Project Manager, Ketty Gitonga at the Launch of the Menstruation Health Hygiene Program

“ It is an honour and a moment of deep pride for me to stand here today for the official launch of our Menstruation Health Hygiene Program, marked by the distribution of the first 500 dignity packs to 500 amazing girls. This is not just a launch—it is a deeply personal milestone in my life and my career as a project manager. Today is the kind of day that reminds me why I chose this path—to make change where it’s needed most.

Growing up, I faced many challenges accessing sanitary pads. My family did the best they could, but most times ,I had to use alternatives.Pieces of old mattress, scraps of cloth, tissue paper—and when my mum could afford it, cotton wool. Many of us know just how uncomfortable and undignified that felt.

Ketty Gitonga, CHS Project Manager,at the Launch of the Menstrual Health Hygiene Program. She is very passionate about the Community Health Project.

Even though I rarely missed school, those were some of the most uncomfortable days of my life. I was a school leader, top of my class, but I lived in fear—fear that I’d be called to the front of the classroom and discover I had stained myself. I would anxiously wait for break time to go and change, and by the third day, even my walking style would change because of the burning sensation and discomfort.

Fast forward to 2022, when we started our school program in 11 schools to respond to the issue of triple threats—Teenage Pregnancy, SGBV, and HIV new infections among adolescents—in Meru County, one of the contributing factors was a lack of access to sanitary products. I would sit and listen to girls talk about their struggles during their periods. I never needed long explanations. Their pain mirrored mine. I would carry their voices back to the office and request support, and occasionally, we would receive donations. But it was never enough, and it certainly wasn’t sustainable. That’s when the idea of reusable pads was born.

I remember thinking: If only I had access to something like that back then, it would have made such a difference. I shared the idea with my team and our partners at the Ministry of Health. But the big question was—do we have the capacity to start production?

We took that leap of faith and began discussions with our donors and partners. I am so grateful that CHASE Africa believed in this vision and committed funds from the Adolescent Sexual & Reproductive Health (ASRHR) program to support the MHH project. Then came Sukuma Twende Trust, which donated our first four sewing machines and 500 bars of soap. The Ministry of Health generously gave us a space to set up our production unit at the Ndiine Dispensary.

At the launch, women who produce the reusable sanitary towels at Ndiine received their training certificates.

By October 2023, we had trained ten youth and ten women from an existing community self-help group on producing reusable pads. Thank you to BINTI Mwanganza CBO for offering this team the best training. And as if that wasn’t enough of a blessing, God connected me

with another incredible partner, Paddy & Scott’s. A big thank you to Jessie for making this possible. They have come on board to support the school education component in three schools and the production and distribution of the first 500 dignity packs.

My heart is full of gratitude. Thank you to every donor and partner who believed in this dream; your cooperation has been key. Thank you to the dedicated teachers in the three schools for allowing us to pilot distribution among your educational institutions.

So, what does this launch mean?

It means no girl should ever miss school again because of her period. It means no girl should go through the shame, discomfort, and fear that I went through. It means we are changing the story—one dignity pack at a time. This year’s International Menstrual Health Day theme is “Together for a Period-Friendly World.” And that’s exactly what we are doing here today—coming together to make menstruation a normal, shame-free, supported part of life.

Thank you to my team, the women at Ndiine Production Site, our partners, donors, schools, the Ministry of Health, and every person who stood with us. I am excited for what lies ahead. I look forward to more stories of success, transformation, and empowerment. And I truly believe there is power in working together. This is just the beginning.”