DROP A SANITARY PAD SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

Dear Friends of the Maboshe Memorial Centre – MMC, Rural school going girls in the age of 10-19 years have resorted to use cow dung, which is made into a flat shape and hang it out on the sun to dry and others also use cow dung which is made into a powder after dried in the sun. They make several pieces of them so that they can be able to use them for about three (3) months. When they are on their period, they take the dried cow dung and place it on their inner wear and put some pieces of cloth on top of the dried dung. They said that the dung acts as a sponge and absorbs the blood when it passes through the cloth because they cannot afford to buy proper sanitary wear or pad. We have identified 10,000 girls who are using cow dung in 10 selected rural primary pupils and sensitize them on menstrual hygiene; We are glad to announce the start of our new donate a free reusable sanitary pads campaign on social media. We wish to raise 10,000 free reusable sanitary pads packs to support underprivileged girls in rural schools in Western province, Zambia. The campaign will provide free sanitary pads and raise education awareness reproductive hygiene to rural school going girls from poor social and economic backgrounds to make sure that periods do not get in the way of girls right to education. Rural girls in Western province, Zambia miss school 5 to 6 days every month during their menstruation because they lack sanitary pads. This means that a girl who is absent from school due to menses for five days per month loses 15 learning days equivalent to 2 weeks of learning in every school term. MISSION To empower girls, keep them in school and giving them an opportunity to learn without having to miss school due to menstruation. VISION To create and cultivate local and global partnerships to end period stigma and to empower rural school going girls with reusable sanitary pads to keep them in school and make them feel more confident about themselves. OBJECTIVES  To help me keep the 10,000 underprivileged girls in rural schools in Western province, Zambia.  To reduce the girl child school dropout due to lack of sanitary pads  To educate teenage girls on puberty, hygiene menstruation and how to physically and psychologically handle such periods.  To sustain marginalized girls with annual packs of sanitary pads and underwear’s to ensure periods do not get in their way of achieving an education.  To eliminate through informing, the myths, taboos and misinformation that people in such communities have about girls during their menstrual period.  To address the challenges and hardships many girls in rural schools face during their menstruation.  To highlight the positive and innovative solutions being taken to address these challenges.  To build partnerships among those partners on international, national and local level.  To create an occasion for media work, including social media.  To strengthen girls menstrual hygiene management by the school management.  To increase the capacity of selected primary schools to effectively manage and sustain menstrual hygiene and sanitation practices.  To increase awareness on proper hygiene and sanitation practices among pupils EXPECTED RESULTS  10. 100 rural school girls supported and trained to locally make reusable sanitary pads to manage menstrual hygiene and stay at school throughout the months.  10 schools supported with reusable sanitary pads and also to establish special rest rooms for girls‟ privacy during menstruation.  Knowledge and awareness created on menstrual hygiene management among schools and pupils in selected schools  Increased school completion rate among targeted girls supported by this project  Reduced stigma and isolation of girls from boys due to improved knowledge and understanding on menstrual hygiene  Reduced school absenteeism; reduced cost of purchase of disposable sanitary pads. DONATIONS SANITARY PRODUCTS Maboshe Memorial Centre - MMC is seeking for partners, donors, companies and individuals make a donation of reusable sanitary pads, menstrual cups, tampons and other ways to secure healthy menstrual hygiene management for this exciting new endeavor reusable sanitary pads campaign on social media to make a difference and the community a safer place for all because every action is a small step towards a bigger change! CONTACT The Executive Director, Maboshe Memorial Centre - MMC, Off Mongu-Lusaka Rd, Chisonga Fuel storage Rd, Chisonga Area, WhatsApp #: +260975077808 Airtel Cell #: +260 975 077 808 MTN Cell #: +260 768 258 443 Zamtel Cell #: +260 954 707 760 Email: mmcmonguheadoffice@ymail.com or mmcoffice8@gmail.com Website: - https://mmc695.webnode.com Facebook page: - http://www.facebook.com/maboshememorialc Twitter: -https://twitter.com/mmc_office Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/11503066/admin