Periods don’t pause for poverty nor disability. That’s why on this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day, our teams showed up in Mukuru kwa Reuben and Kibera informal settlements with practical support and a shared commitment to inclusion.

Through a special distribution drive under the Make Way program in partnership with Cheshire Disability Services Kenya (CDSK), we provided sanitary towels to girls with disabilities and diapers to caregivers of children with severe disabilities, including cerebral palsy.

For many, managing menstrual health comes with layered challenges including lack of accessible washrooms, limited mobility, stigma, and financial constraints. These supplies may seem basic, but they meet an urgent need and affirm the right of every girl and caregiver to manage menstruation with dignity.

During our community safe space dialogues, we also reflected on this year’s global theme: “Together for a Period-Friendly World.” Girls and their caregivers shared personal experiences and practical suggestions from the need for disability-friendly sanitation facilities to the importance of continuous SRHR education for both youth and caregivers.

With over 70 girls and 15 caregivers in attendance, we are glad to have created impact by being part of a community that seeks to build a more period-friendly world.