Aruna: Avidly Adventurous!

 In addition to these girls learning about safe menstrual hygiene, it is important to factor in sustainability methods of maintaining that management practice. These tailoring workshop for such hygiene menstruation helps the girls have sufficient products for use in our absence. Those days that we cannot be of reach from and they have to continue practicing, presence of this skills and pads will come in handy. This is why we equip them with the basic skills of hand stitching these pads without necessarily loosing grip of the quality to be maintained. I watched happily as the girls stitched their way out, securing a healthy future. Way to go girls.

Girls  deserve the right to basic needs. The right to gradually be the directors of our lives as we keep maturing in every phase of life. She deserves the right to education, and experiencing a fun teenage life. This is not the case for this 13-year-old, whose life path has been altered by another human being. Transactional sex in exchange for a sanitary pad. This girl, at 13 is now forced to deal with pregnancy load, a misfortune that was unforeseen. At this age as a minor, her lack of commodity, forcing her to make uninformed choice should not have happened. Yet this is a case of a perpetuator, taking advantage of her vulnerability. She is now forced to deal with the burden of being a teenage mother. This can turn into a lifetime of traumatizing experience. This is inhumane. Our minor girls are suffering in the hands of such. Stop this cruelty today! Support without asking for sex as a trade in.

This is an issue that I cannot emphasize enough. Any girl or woman menstruating has the right to education, access to clean water and sanitation facilities. The right to non-discrimination, non-stigmatization from both male or female human being. Menstruation in itself is a natural bodily function and should not be treated like an ailment. Girls deserve support, cooperation and empathy during these periods for their smooth stay -both at home, school and any other avenue they may be experiencing this. I extend my gratitude to everyone of you who has been part of these girl’s smooth process during their period.                         

Whenever I think about women, I think about what I have been able to learn, go and grow through. To stare at my reflection in the mirror and clap for myself with pride. This is what I envision other women going through. Being content about their journey, their potential and position they hold in their households and the community. She knows she has to take care of herself, aid in fetching for her family, support her loved one and nurture her kids. This is not a responsibility to her as a woman, it is her joy and she owns it with happiness. I see you and I appreciate you woman. 

  Most of us will find it strange to find groups of girls, women in the presence of a male figure -educating them on menstrual hygiene. I mean what do men know about a girl’s natural bodily function right? Only girls should attend to their same gender, right? Well, when it comes to menstruation, it is becoming a norm, males are starting to join these agendas and breaking from the societal norms. They are steadfast on supporting girls, as emotional support during menstruation period is key. Having male figures fetch for pads, assist with clean water for sanitation and any other help we women may need-is what these male advocates are championing for. They do not want to be left out of the equation. This is so reassuring.

When I look into her eyes I see courage, determination, innocence to learn and the vulnerability to receive support for the betterment of her livelihood. Her school has rolled the ball and provided her with a space for her to set her foundation straight. The path she chooses to follow will or may determine the outcome of her decisions. I must admit that there is a profound strength in a girl, girls. Straight from the start if you equip her with the right information and mechanisms to reinforce her ambition, she will achieve them. Are we out there to uplift girls in our society? As I write this, I can feel that yes, we are. Your endless support is truly heartwarming. Together we raise decent girls. Let’s do this

  Have you ever been in those moments where you struggle with your inner child dilemmas? Those curiosity moments that get you reminiscing some of the episodes of your childhood when your parents had to use coded language when referring to sensitive topics that were not children friendly? Those were the days By the age of 6 to 7 years old, most children beginning to understand periods or developing curiosity around their body changes topic -puberty is crucial . This teachable moment is crucial to introduce menstruation as a topic of interest.   Having interacted with such children I can confidently state that early  learning about body literacy  and menstruation early beats some ignorance and reduces a lot of myths and misconception in that way dimming the light of stigmatization and discrimination. I will  continue to find ways of incorporating both girls and boys on menstruation topic, creatively setting up the opportunity for them to unlearn and rel...

These Students at the Kenya Medical Training Institute were incredible. I admired their thirst to add more learning to their expertise. This day as we dwelt on safe Menstrual Hygiene Management, it was refreshing to notice that some of them were learning key information around menstrual hygiene for the first time. Men too are joining these conversations and it  feels really inclusive. This kind of rawness in their reception build my zeal to want to do more in terms of information dissemination for them and other young people around Kenya. Its always a true honor to educate and learn in the process. These interactions really spark conversations that are enlightening as far a girl’s menstrual topic is concern. I am Looking forward to more forums like this as we continue breaking barriers and burying myths and misconceptions around menstruation.

  Hosting policy makers, various comprehensive health stakeholders, and the Community of girls and women; the beneficiaries’ girls- is the avenue that the world needs. This maintains information chain flow and interaction is wired through every representative who are ambassador for this Menstrual Hygiene management path. This humbling day, June 8th, offered Together for B etter a chance to exhibit on at the prestigious Kenya Global Studio on Circular Economy is event -at the Norfolk Hotel-Nairobi, Kenya S howcase of our organization's vision and inputs to the primary community beneficiary and to the world was such a beautiful avenue for us . Our stand attracted various guests to discuss matters reducing period poverty through our reusable sanitary pads. Information dissemination to the world on safe menstrual hygiene management for girls. Looking forward to seeing what near future the present will unfold.    

  Africa Waste is Wealth ’ Series conference second day was delightful. I was joined by Terryanne Chebet & Maina Chege alongside very innovative environmental conservationists and policymakers at the conference to witness our progress so far as waste management is concerned . Focus being ‘ State of Waste Management Policy, Circular Economy, and Green Finance in East Africa ’ .  Very informative and unbiased key messages were shared by the panelists; Like Mavji Varsani-CEO VINTZ PLASTIC LIMITED- regarding waste management policies in the East African region.

This Years World Ocean Day theme, 'Planet Ocean: tides are changing”, was an umbrella of a myriad of everyone’s effort towards protecting and conserving the marine life. We were thrilled to join other changemakers, policy markers in putting the ocean first. We want to commend, Alliance Françoise - Mombasa for an overwhelming support to plan and witness this forthcoming Ocean festival happen on the 10th of June. Mombasa Ocean Festival dubbed; 'Ocean Fiesta' lived to its expectation to allow us to commemorate our efforts in ocean conservation. G rat eful to all the partners and sponsors whose inputs contributes such an impact to conserve oceans- the whole marine ecosystem. The ocean covering over 70% of the planet is our tap of life and that of every other organism on planet earth. Our aim will now be, to not only protect but nourish the marine life.  Let us put oceans first .