It is estimated that 850,000 girls miss school every month due to a lack of sanitary pads. With 43% of Kenyans under 15 years old, the need is growing every year. For 2012, The Nia Network documents nearly 260,000 girls receiving over 18M sanitary pads and over 900,000 underpants by only eight distributors across over 2500 schools – representing nearly 30% of the girls needing pads.
To launch the app, Chase Group Foundation and ZanaAfrica announce a Sanitary Pad Giveaway Challenge, calling on parties interested in distributing sanitary pads to schoolgirls to download the app and fill out an application form to help give away annual supplies of pads and underpants to 7,600 girls. Both the app and the form can be found through the Chase Bank website [www.chasebankkenya.co.ke].
The Nia Network was conceptualized in 2008, but only after partnering with Chase Group Foundation has it become a reality. ZanaAfrica Founder and CEO, Megan White Mukuria, first launched the National Sanitary Towels Campaign in 2006 when she was then incoming-President of the Rotary Club of Nairobi South. This campaign, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Girl Child Network, P&G, and others, brought greater awareness to issue. Mrs. Mukuria was a founding member of the National Sanitary Towels Campaign Coordinating Committee in 2008 and was commissioned by them to create this online coordinating solution.
“Studies show that girls who receive sanitary pads and related health education win back 75% more school, winning back six more weeks of school. If we can coordinate our efforts to reach all the girls who need pads, we could raise up a generation of educated girls who could break the generational cycle of poverty,” said Mrs. Mukuria.
Technology allows for new levels of coordination, cooperation, and transparency. Says Director of Africa Cotton Industries, Khalil Anjarwala, ‘The Nia Network solves two of the biggest challenges facing donors and distributors of pads in Kenya today – a lack of central coordination and a lack of real-time, accurate data to assess the impact the pads give to our girls education (and life). As a Kenyan manufacturer supplying pads through the Government’s free pads for schoolgirls initiative, we are proud to support ZanaAfrica to show the world what Kenyan innovation and leadership is achieving.”
“Partnering with ZanaAfrica ties in to our aspiration of being in the forefront of women empowerment, as women are the core pillar of our society”, said Mr. Duncan Kabui, CEO, Chase Bank.
Sanitary pads have been donated by the PaperSeed Foundation in the USA and adjustable underpants – so they can fit a girl of any size – by Transformation Textiles.
Next steps for the application include standardizing distribution methodology, directing donors to the disadvantaged schools, and monitoring the impact of pads on school performance metrics
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