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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 32288, member: 636"] Schools across five Ugandan districts are receiving a game-changing boost for teenage girls. The East African Crude Oil Pipeline Company and Malaika social enterprise have kicked off a groundbreaking project delivering free reusable sanitary pads to 1,500 students. The problem has been devastating for young girls. Many students miss nearly two-thirds of their school year because of menstruation challenges. Without proper sanitary protection, girls face terrible choices. Some borrow money from older men, risking pregnancy. Others use unsafe materials like dirty clothes or even soil, causing serious health problems. A shocking government study revealed that 70 percent of girls resort to unhygienic methods during their periods. Schools have struggled with massive dropout rates. The Bunyoro sub-region sees 73 percent of students leaving education prematurely. Girls especially suffer from stigma and embarrassment around menstruation. They frequently miss classes, fall behind academically, and lose confidence. The cycle of poverty continues as education opportunities slip away. The new program does more than just hand out sanitary pads. Malaika's approach tackles the problem comprehensively. Girls receive reusable pads and learn how to wash and care for them. They are taught to make pads using local materials. The project also involves boys and male teachers to fight the stigma and create a supportive environment. During the launch at Kabaale Public Primary School, education officials celebrated a potential breakthrough. The program provides not just pads but buckets for washing and comprehensive hygiene training. Importantly, boys will participate in sports activities, helping create awareness and reduce menstruation-related shame. Clean water remains crucial for the project's success. Without proper sanitation, even the best intentions can fall short. The initiative represents a critical step toward keeping girls in school and breaking cycles of poverty. By addressing menstrual health holistically, the project offers hope for thousands of young students across these districts. [/QUOTE]

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