My name is Jovia Namihanja and I am raising funds so that I can lead an Equal Aqua team to deliver mentrual hygiene workshops for climate refugees in Uganda. Please sponsor me. Thank you so much!

WORLD MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY

Today millions of girls and women around the world are stigmatized, excluded and discriminated against simply because they menstruate.

Its not acceptable that because of a natural bodily function girls and women continue to be prevented from getting an education earning an income and fully and equally participating in every day life.

The subject of menstruation, however is too often a taboo, and has many negative cultural attitudes associated with it, including the idea that menstruating girls are 'contaminated', :dirty ' and 'impure'.

Girls in the rural settings of Uganda and in particular girls in schools suffer the most from stigma, lack of services and facilities to help them cope with the physical and psychological pains they undergo during their menstrual periods.

Some of the problems they face are:

- In numerous context girls lack adequate guidance about menstruation, thereby experiencing their first menstrual blood flow with shame, fear and insufficient understand around how to manage their menstruation with confidence and dignity.

- Inadequate preparations for the young girls not yet experiencing menstrual hygiene.

- Stigma ,it being a taboo and it's cultural attitudes which are not realistic.

- Lack of money to purchase sanitary pads which are a bit costly since most families in the rural settings are extended which it difficult provide such needs to every child.

With your support we shall provide support to one of the climate disaster resettlement area called BUNAMBTYE RESETTLEMENT CAMP

200,000 Ugandans are already being affected each year by climate-related disasters. Parts of the country, especially Eastern Uganda, are prone to flash floods, mudslides, landslides and drought. As usual, women and girls are suffering the most, many do not have access to proper menstrual hygiene knowledge and products.

Your help will enable us to:

- Raise awareness, break taboos and the stigma surrounding menstruation.

- Train the girls and women how to make reusable sanitary pads which are environmental friendly, durable and affordable.

- Equip by distributing reusable sanitary kits which will contain knickers and reusable sanitary pads.

This will help, keep and encourage girls stay in school (prevent missing school days, prevent early marriages). Ensure girls are using the proper sanitary products (discourage the use of piles paper, leaves, dirty clothes which may cause diseases). It will also restore confidence, dignity and zeal in girls at they can achieve anything if they aim at it.

EQUAL AQUA UGANDA is an international NGO run by a group of volunteers based in Uganda, the UK and 9 other countries. Our mission is to provide equal access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), while tackling interrelated issues of environmental sustainability. We address inequalities in access to WASH, such as income, gender, age and status (refugees and those with disabilities).

100% of money raised goes directly to our projects in Uganda. All donations and support very welcome.

Thank you. Jovia :)