In the rural villages of East Pokot in Kenya, young girls face the harsh realities of deeply rooted intergenerational stigma and superstitions surrounding menstruation. By being prohibited from herding or cooking during their periods, the young girls internalise the message that menstruating is dirty and shameful. In the absence of any guidance, the young girls:

(1) use old, unsanitary rags that often result in infections,

(2) sometimes resort to transactional sex to afford sanitary items,

(3) skip school to bleed which impacts their education,

(4) experience mental health problems, and

(5) in extreme cases, pregnancy is used as an escape from menstruating.

Milcah is a Kenyan, East Pokot-born woman who is determined to redefine how periods are perceived and managed in her community. Milcah spends her down time traveling to rural villages in East Pokot to raise awareness and educate the young girls about menstrual health and management. Milcah strives to empower the girls with period positivity to break the stigma and create lasting impact for the next generation. Milcah’s wish is to be able to provide the young girls with reusable sanitary pads so they can menstruate with dignity. However, funding is a significant obstacle.

Given that GoFundMe platform is supported in Australia but not in Kenya, I’m fundraising on behalf of my dear friend Milcah. Since meeting in 2023, Milcah and I instantly developed a sisterhood through our shared values and a common dream for a better world. We now humbly invite you to join our Period Positive campaign.

For 1,000 KES (approx. AUD $11.49 or USD $7.53*) we can purchase:

Our goal is to raise 150,000 KES (approx. AUD $1,721 or USD $1,128*) to purchase reusable sanitary pads for 150 girls by 1st November 2024. All funds raised will be used towards purchasing reusable sanitary pads from a reputable Kenyan-based local supplier - Together For Better Foundation.

Every contribution, no matter how small, will support the transformation of a young girl’s life by ensuring her a future where she can menstruate with dignity and pride. We thank you for having read this far, and for any support you are able to offer these girls. Please consider sharing this campaign with your family and friends so that together we can strive towards a period positive world.

*currency conversion rates based on Xe live currency conversion rates 25 July 2024.