As part of the Global Health Systems (GHS) program at Western University, we will be travelling to Uganda this summer to complete an internship placement with Think Humanity. Think Humanity is a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting refugees and under-resourced communities through initiatives in education, healthcare, clean water, and community development. Based near the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in western Uganda, the organization works closely with local leaders to create sustainable, community-driven change, including running a secondary school that supports vulnerable and orphaned girls and delivering health and outreach programs in nearby refugee communities . Through this experience, we hope to learn from the community while contributing in a meaningful and respectful way to their ongoing work.

As part of our placement, we are launching a fundraising initiative to address the neglected issue of period poverty in the Kyangwali refugee camp and surrounding communities. Many girls and women lack access to basic menstrual products, pain management, and accurate information about menstrual health, which can lead to missed school, stigma, and preventable health challenges. With your support, we aim to provide menstrual care kits that include essential items such as sanitary products (including reusable cloth pads), underwear, hygiene soap, and pain relief (e.g., paracetamol), as well as reusable hot water bottles for cramps. We also hope to include practical items, such as small storage bags for discretion and cleanliness. In addition, we are aiming to create and distribute educational materials and facilitate sessions in both the refugee camp and Think Humanity’s girls’ school to promote menstrual health education, reduce stigma, and empower young women with knowledge about their bodies.

We also recognize that period poverty is closely linked to broader issues like food insecurity. Many families in the refugee settlement struggle to meet their basic daily needs, which often means that menstrual health becomes a lower priority. For this reason, a portion of our fundraising efforts will go toward providing food baskets to families in the camp. By addressing both menstrual health and food security, we hope to support the overall well-being of these communities in a more holistic and impactful way. Every donation, no matter the size, will directly contribute to improving the health, dignity, and daily lives of the individuals and families we are privileged to support.