Empowering Girls

Breaking Barriers with Knowledge and Dignity

This past May, on our Smile Journey Learning and Giving Adventure, we partnered with Days for Girls International and the Olmalaika Days for Girls Social Enterprise in Kenya to bring menstrual health education and sustainable kits to rural, underserved areas of Kenya. We reached over 1,000 students, providing essential health, hygiene, and reproductive education that equips them with knowledge, confidence, and dignity.

During our visits, we distributed 160 reusable Days for Girls kits to students and participated in interactive sessions that taught them how to safely use and care for their kits. Students submitted anonymous questions about menstruation, hygiene, and growing up, which we organized into topics and addressed openly - creating safe spaces for discussion and helping replace stigma with understanding.

Boys were also included in respectful sessions, learning about their bodies, reproduction, and how to support menstruators. These conversations help foster empathy, understanding, and positive attitudes toward menstruation in the broader community.

All the kits were locally produced through the Olmalaika Days for Girls Social Enterprise, supporting women in the community, building skills, creating employment, and ensuring a sustainable, community-driven supply of menstrual products.

Menstrual health affects education, equality, and overall well-being. Without access to products or education, many girls miss school or work, limiting their opportunities. By providing reusable kits and education, we helped students gain confidence, stay in school, and approach their health with knowledge and dignity.

Through this journey, we saw firsthand how education, open conversation, and sustainable solutions can empower young people, strengthen communities, and create lasting change - one conversation, one lesson, and one student at a time.