Tatua3 Foundation brought a sigh of relief to young girls learning at Likii Mixed day and Secondary school by donating sanitary pads to needy and vulnerable students in Laikipia County.
The Tatua3 Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Joan Mwaura together with the Laikipia East constituency Member of Parliament Mwangi Kiunjuri distributed over 270 sanitary pads through the institution’s principal Dr Margaret Kangaito.
The school has a population of 430 pupils with 240 of the students being girls.
Likii Secondary School Principal Dr Margaret Kangaito thanked Tatua3 for the donation and added that having organisations donate sanitary towels to ensure that girls attend school and go about their daily activities was fundamental as this was a human rights issue:
Tatua3 Foundation boss Dr Joan Mwaura said due to poverty, menstruating girls lack sanitary pads and as a result do not attend school until the cycle is over, hence the reason they donated the sanitary pads.
“This increased absenteeism and dropout affects the performance of the girl child. By providing sanitary pads, many girls will concentrate and complete school. With increased performance, the gender gap between boys and girls enrolment and retention in school will be reduced,” said Dr Mwaura.
Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri (second right) taking part in the distribution exercise of sanitary pads to Likii Mixed and Day Secondary School donated by Tatua3 Foundation
Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) who is the current Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri thanked Tatua3 for considering a school in his constituency with the donation and said Kenya needed to have more conversations and spaces to talk openly to high school pupils about periods and called on more partners to come on board and support the initiative countrywide.
Likii mixed day and secondary school was started initially to help the needy and vulnerable students from the informal settlement within Nanyuki, Laikipia East constituency.
“Putting smiles on vulnerable children and having the passion to help the less fortunate makes them attached to the community,” Dr Mwaura added.
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