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The need. In Sierra Leone, menstruation is a significant barrier to education. In our schools, 20% of girls who have started their periods miss school when they are menstruating. Menstruation and menstrual hygiene is not talked about to girls in Sierra Leone, so many are surprised and afraid when they start their periods, and have no supplies to manage it. In our schools, 93% of girls who have started their periods did not know what menstruation was before they had their first period.
Why it’s important? Research by UNICEF and other international organizations shows very strongly that the positive economic impact of educating girls is profound for communities in developing countries like Sierra Leone. Providing menstrual hygiene tools and reproductive health education is a direct way to keep girls in school and support their healthy growth and development.
What we are doing? Schools for Salone conducts reproductive health education with girls and boys in our schools, and distributes Days for Girls menstruation kits to girls who have started their periods.
Uman Tok is a partnership between Schools for Salone USA, Uman TOK Sierra Leone, and Days for Girls. The purpose of Uman Tok is to make menstrual hygiene management and education available to women and girls across Sierra Leone so they can overcome the barriers of menstruation and achieve their dreams.
Since 2016, Uman Tok has reached 11,000 students with reproductive health education. The Uman Tok team has produced and distributed 10,000 Days for Girls kits to girls and women across the country. Before Uman Tok began, 20% of girls in SfS partner schools were missing school because of their periods. There were also high rates of teenage pregnancy, which reached 65% during the Ebola outbreak. Since Uman Tok began reproductive health education and kit distribution in these schools, there have been zero cases of teenage pregnancy in any SfS partner schools, and the incidence of girls missing school because of their periods has dropped to near zero and remained there. When girls have the menstrual care they need, it empowers them to go to school and pursue a promising future.
Uman Tok provided essential employment to local women to sew the kits. This program provides a steady income and vocational training to women in Sierra Leone who would otherwise be unable to provide for themselves and their children
| Kit Type | Price (USD) | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme | $11.00 | 2 shields, 8 liners, 2 plastic bags, 1 cloth bag, 2 panties, 1 washcloth, 1 bar of soap, 1 care and use card |
| Super | $9 | 2 shields, 8 liners, 1 plastic bag, 1 cloth bag, 1 care and use card |
| Pod | $2.50 | 1 shield, 2 liners |
