Project Report
| Dec 2, 2021
Co-designing Program
By Mariama Jaiteh | Project Leader
In April, while delivering program in The Gambia with schoo aged youth, more specially girls. The students and ourselves were engaging in a brainstorming to session to co-create programming that best address their needs. The girls expressed wanting to have the opportunity to learn and gain skills that will enable them to become entrepreneurs if they are not able to attain highter education. The girls envision having trainings to be seamstress, chefs, and fashion designer that will allow them work and or open their own businesses when they finish high school.
Those that were interest in pursuing higher education wanted to be train in STEM education. This requires having tools in the classroom that will foster learning in this area. Together we we draft a working strategic plan for 2022. We will work towards raising funds that is geared towards STEM education. While at the same, contined providing utility to reduced menstrual poverty.
We intend to create another project that seeks to compliment our Menstrual poverty empowerment program by adding a STEM education program to encourage girls to enter the STEM field.
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Jul 26, 2021
Menstrual Poverty: Empowering Girls in The Gambia
By Mariama Jaiteh | President
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Menstrual poverty is a serious issue in the developing world for many girls. Many girls lack access to obtaining pads during their menstrual cycles. This pushes many to missed school during their cycles because they lack access to pads, hence, they missed critical learning times as they are forced to stay home. This is why we wanted to make an impact in girls' education by providing much needed pads to school age girls to prevent and reduced their absence from school.
From the funds that we raised, we were able to purchased pads and school supplies. This allowed us to distribute 4 months supplies of pads to 24 girls at the Babylon Basic and Primary School in Lamin, The Gambia in April. We had a great time engaging the girls in topics related to sexual health, life plans, and their general hopes for the future. While some of the girls look forward to having the opportunity to attend college after graduation, others wanted the opportunity to gain skills that will allow them to get a job after graduation. While a few of the girls were shy taking the pads in the beginning, they eventually came around when they saw their classmates feeling comfortable talking about proper hygene during and after one's menstrual cycle and the need to have clean access to sanitary pads.
Our pads distribution was fantastic, our girls were very happy and grateful for receiving the supplies. They encourage us to continuing doing this important program and prayed that we never stop doing so. This touched us greatly with a continued renewal to continue with this work and much more.
We are grateful to GlobalGiving for this continued fundraising efforts!
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Mar 13, 2021
Project Update!
By Mariama Jaiteh | President
The pandemic had made it difficult to travel to carryout programming. However, we have purchased all of our menstrual pads along with school supplies. These items were shipped and they arrived safely in The Gambia. They are currently stored in our storage. As soon as our team members are vaccinated, we will be able to safely travel to The Gambia in order for us to have a safe program in distributing the menstrual pads to our girls and give them school supplies as well along with ensuring that they are mentally and physically well.
We are patiently waiting to be able to travel safely and resume programming. We are hopeful that by the next three months, we will be able to do so. In the meantime, we have been able to stay in touch with our girls via whatsapp messaging in order to ensure that they are safe and well during these difficult time. Thankfully, they are all coping well and staying in touch.
We look forward to get our programming going soon.
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