In many rural regions of Kenya, girls and women face barriers that have little to do with their talent, intelligence or determination. One of the most challenging is the lack of access to basic menstrual hygiene products. According to UNICEF and local health authorities, millions of women and girls across the country struggle to afford sanitary pads, and a significant number of school-aged girls miss lessons every month due to their periods. For those living in remote communities, stigma, silence and limited resources often combine to create setbacks that affect education, dignity and mental wellbeing.
This is the reality Mission Relief have set out to change through its Period Poverty Campaign, which distributes reusable hygiene packs to women and girls in the hardest-to-reach areas. Among the many girls who have benefitted is Rahma, a pupil from a rural village whose story reflects what thousands of girls quietly experience every school term.
Rahma’s Story
Mission Relief first met Rahma last November during a community distribution of hygiene packs. She was quiet but attentive, watching closely as our team explained how each item inside the kits is used and cared for. Months later, during an assessment visit, Rahma opened up about the struggles she had faced for years.
She shared that she often missed school whenever her period arrived. Her biggest fear was staining her uniform, especially in a mixed school where teasing was common. Like many girls her age, the embarrassment felt overwhelming, and staying home seemed like the only option.
Rahma explained it in her own words.
“When I’m on my period, I often miss school. If I go to school on my cycle, I will stain my uniform and my friends will laugh at me. It makes me feel so ashamed.”
Missing school meant falling behind. Falling behind made it harder to keep up. This cycle continued month after month and affected both her confidence and her education.
When Mission Relief returned for a follow-up school assessment this September, Rahma was a different girl. She smiled as she spoke about how much had changed since receiving her reusable pads. The fear of attending lessons during her period had faded, and she expressed a sense of control and freedom she had never felt before.
She told us:
“Thanks to your sanitary pads I won’t ever miss school again. From now onwards I will study hard, in order to achieve my future goals.”
Rahma is one of one hundred girls in her village who received a Mission Relief reusable hygiene kit. Each kit contains six reusable pads, soap, clean underwear, a razor and a wash bag. With the right care, the pads last up to three years. For many families, this is the only sustainable and reliable menstrual solution they have ever received.
The Mission Relief Period Poverty Campaign
The campaign is designed to give girls long-term support rather than a short-term fix. By focusing on reusable products, education and ongoing assessments, the programme helps girls stay in school, improves their wellbeing, and breaks the silence around menstrual health.
These kits are more than essential supplies. They offer dignity, safety and a real chance for girls to continue their education without interruption. For students like Rahma, they provide the confidence to sit in class without fear and to focus on their future rather than their worries.
How You Can Support
A donation of £10 provides one full reusable hygiene kit to a girl in need. This small contribution can protect three years of schooling and help ensure that no girl misses lessons simply because she cannot manage her period.
Education shapes futures. With your support, girls like Rahma can stay in school, build confidence and work towards the opportunities they deserve.
Mission Relief will continue expanding this programme across rural Kenya, reaching more girls who are still silently missing classes. Together, we can give them dignity, stability and the chance to thrive.
