We are cycling from John O'Groats to Lands End to raise money for HUGs!

HUGs is a community outreach initiative to help girls in need in Uganda. Their aim is to promote gender equality and girls education. A major problem for girls in Uganda happens once a month. For those who simply cannot afford to buy sanitary towels, girls are often forced to use old cloths, paper and even leaves and mud to protect their clothes and their embarrassment from staining. Such materials lead to infections and often the girls have to miss school resulting in a loss of up to 20% of their education.

Along with giving out reusable sanitary towels called Afripads to the girls HUGs ensure that they are involved in puberty and menstrual hygiene workshops including fun, interactive games, group discussions, lessons and demonstrations and are given a snack.

Another way HUGs help girls in Uganda is to support them in making an income for themselves. HUGs has so far funded the start up costs of 3 small businesses that are owned and managed by young single mothers. Previously, they couldn't afford to send their children to school. Now they can see to it that they are responsible for their children's school fees and that they will be educated and in Uganda, education is "the key to success".

Last year HUGs managed to raise enough money to provide every one of the 240 girls on the Girl Up adolescent girls programme with a packet of Afripads. This year their aim is to fund a new initiative to train the girls on this year's programme in making reusable pads. Rather than rely on handouts, this training will empower the girls and give them a valuable life skill which they can pass on to their peers.