Project at a glance
Project Duration: 2014-2023
Project Team: Mary, Michelle, Christine, Terry, Otibine and Maureen
Partners: Sauti Africa, KYCTv, Muungano wa Wanavijiji, Lixil Corporation Japan
Since 2014, AMT and partners worked with more than 20 schools located in Mukuru to support approximately 3,000 young girls and 500 boys, aged between 9 and 15 years. The objectives of the project were twofold: to improve girls’ school retention rates, and; empower both young girls and boys with knowledge that enables them to make well-informed decisions regarding their overall well-being.
The challenge
Menstrual health continues to be a pressing issue, especially for adolescent girls residing in Nairobi’s informal settlements. Despite the implementation of the Basic Education Amendment Act (2016), which obligates the government to distribute free, sufficient, and high-quality sanitary towels to adolescent girls, the vast majority of schools in the Mukuru informal settlement have not benefitted from this programme. This is because most schools are informal and consequently do not receive any form of government assistance.
As a result, numerous young girls in Mukuru struggle to access affordable sanitary towels, often causing them to miss school during their menstrual cycles. In dire circumstances, some girls resort to exploitative relationships to obtain essential menstrual hygiene products. There is also a substantial lack of awareness and knowledge regarding reproductive health and life skills among both boys and girls, further hindering their effective transition into adulthood.
Project approach
To address these challenges, AMT has collaborated with “The Lixil Next Door” Project since 2014. Spearheaded by the employees of Lixil, a leading Japanese corporation, the project provides assistance to underprivileged school-going children in informal settlements. The project combines supply of reusable or disposable sanitary towels and underwear, coupled with training on sexual and reproductive health topics such as adolescence, menstrual hygiene, and sex education.
Over the years, the Lixil Next Door project has played a crucial role in providing vital support to young learners through training and mentoring together with the distribution of both reusable and disposable sanitary towels, as well as boxer shorts for young boys. In close collaboration with Muungano, AMT has partnered with more than 20 schools located in Mukuru kwa Reuben, Mukuru kwa Njenga, and Viwandani. This collaborative effort has touched the lives of approximately 3,000 young girls and 500 boys, aged between 9 and 15 years, from the year 2014 to 2023.
The project’s execution includes the training of a dedicated team of youth from Sauti Africa, a youth group in Mukuru, and members of KYCTv, a Muungano youth team specializing in documenting life stories that influence their communities. These young facilitators have played a pivotal role in imparting knowledge on various subjects, including the proper use and maintenance of pads, menstrual hygiene, adolescence, and sexuality
The demand for menstrual hygiene products is however substantial, underscoring the urgency for more comprehensive efforts to fulfill the needs of young learners.
“With Love From Japan“
The staff at Lixil go above and beyond in their efforts to support the children of Mukuru. Beyond raising funds for sanitary hygiene products, boxers, and underwear, they engage in a heartfelt gesture each year. Lixil staff dedicate their time to handcraft pouches, intricately stitched and embroidered, for the young boys and girls. These pouches not only contain the necessary underwear for each child but also symbolize care and compassion. The children in Mukuru treasure these beautifully crafted pouches, seeing them as a genuine expression of love and kindness from Japan.
