1 in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa misses 20% of school during their menstrual cycle. Many girls starting to menstruate drop out of school altogether. Lack of affordable menstruation products, facilities and education are among the reasons for this barrier to education. Myths and taboos around menstruation in some societies and communities are further barriers. Working with the Rotary Club of Kampala Nsambya, in Uganda, the Global Grant was, "Girls Helping Girls Stay in School" Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise plus clubs of Vancouver, Pender Harbour, Whistler Millennium, Williams Lake Daybreak, Kitimat, and Squamish received a Rotary Global Grant.
The Global Grant grant led to forming the Rotary Hygiene and Sanitation Social Enterprise Limited (ROHSSEL) Uganda.
This initiative started when Rotarian and Director of the Candle Light Foundation (CLF) Rosette Nabuuma, from the Rotary Club of Kampala Nsambya, visited the Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise and gave a talk about the Candle Light High School, which is providing education and skills mainly for girls from less fortunate families.
The grant was used to establish a not-for-profit social enterprise in Uganda mandated to provide menstrual hygiene management training for both the girls and the boys and the production of washable, reusable, comfortable, confidence building, environmentally friendly sanitary pads.
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In November 2020 the Rotary Hygiene and Social Enterprise Limited was registered in Kampala Uganda and is located in the Candle Light High School in Mukono District. The social enterprise works closely with the Ministry of Education in Uganda to provide menstrual hygiene management and sanitation in the schools.
The training is given to both girls and boys in order to give a better understanding and encourage gender equality. It helps to build the girl student’s self esteem and confidence.
From the sale of "EnviroPADS", 90% 0f the net proceeds go to providing sanitary pads to those who may not be able to afford to purchase them and 10% goes towards expanding capacity.
The social enterprise also provides opportunities for graduates from the Candle Light High School to become seamstresses and trainers and has become a platform for issues around child marriages, female genital mutilation, and the prevention of HIV.
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