Every child deserves an education. Every child in Uganda values education above everything else, as each one knows that their future is determined by whether or not they remain at school!

Unfortunately, the news is not good. Over 25% of children drop out of secondary school for a host of reasons. Primarily, poverty is the main cause. However, other factors are also significant, whether they be individual, family, school or community related.

Girls are less likely to attend school regularly for cultural, economic and physical reasons. Girls are likely to attend school less or completely drop out during their menstrual cycle with thousands of girls not returning. Many are too embarrassed or feel ashamed in front of others due to a lack of education on sanitation & hygiene. Secondly, there is often in-adequate infrastructure and resources available at school to ensure that whilst these girls continue to learn, they can get all the help and support they need.

The school currently serves 550 children, 283 whom are girls. Of these, 124 are boarders. The only facilities currently available to provide for these girls during menstruation is an old 5-stance toilet block. Pads are discarded into a bucket where they are even eventually burnt in a rusty incinerator.

Therefore, in 2023, Mission Direct teams will be working at the school where we are planning to construct three sanitary rooms and three toilets all within one block in conjunction with a water harvesting system to provide the necessary supply of water. Each sanitary room will contain a shower and hanging space for pads.

Let's give the girls their dignity back.