Ending Period Poverty for rural girls in Tanzania

In our continued commitment to supporting girls' education in rural Tanzania, Lyra in Africa is making significant progress. During this reporting period, Lyra has successfully built two incinerators at Maduma and Mseke secondary schools, helping to create a safer and more dignified environment for girls. These incinerators provide a sanitary way to dispose of reusable pads, a critical need in schools. In addition to this, Lyra has distributed 200 reusable sanitary pads to students, addressing one of the most pressing challenges that girls face during menstruation.

Through the tireless efforts of our Digital Champions, who educate their peers on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), we have seen a direct and positive impact on girls’ attendance and confidence. Many girls, who used to miss several school days each month due to inadequate menstrual care facilities, are now able to focus more on their education, making strides toward a brighter future.

Despite these advancements, too many girls in rural Tanzania are still left behind. In rural secondary schools, girls miss 3 to 5 days of school every month due to a lack of proper menstrual hygiene products and facilities. Over a year, these absences can accumulate into months of missed learning, leading to lower academic performance and, tragically, higher dropout rates.

For many girls, especially those from low-income families, the cost of menstrual products is a barrier to their education. Unhygienic alternatives are often the only option available, risking their health and dignity. Over 3,000 girls in Lyra partners schools still lack access to proper sanitary products, and many schools remain ill-equipped to provide the safe and hygienic facilities these girls need.

While we are proud of our progress, our work is far from finished. To truly transform the educational experience for girls in rural Tanzania, we need sufficient funding to extend our impact. More than ever, we need support to provide sanitary pads to all girls in our partner schools, build incinerators in 8 more partner schools, deliver ongoing education on menstrual hygiene and reproductive health, and ensure that no girl is left behind due to misinformation lack of access to hygiene resources.

Your generous contributions can help us reduce the gap and ensure that every girl has the opportunity to thrive in school. Together, we can make it possible for more girls to attend school confidently, focusing on their education rather than worrying about basic hygiene needs.