Youth-led project produces, distributes sanitary pads 

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Lusaka, Zambia, are helping girls and young women continue their education. A project helps young women who are forced to miss school periodically due to poverty and taboos surrounding menstrual hygiene. Through a series of targeted activities, the project aims to reduce school dropout rates, increase girls’ self-esteem, and promote lasting cultural change by supporting the production and distribution of reusable sanitary pads, accompanied by education and awareness courses.

Through the work of the Her and His Gift Foundation, set up by a group of girls and young women who attend the Don Bosco Youth Center in Lusaka, around 7,200 reusable sanitary pads have been produced and distributed, thereby also strengthening local skills and micro-entrepreneurship opportunities. The young women then attended courses on practical skills and personal hygiene.

Twenty workshops were also held in the cities of Lusaka, Kabwe, Chingola and Mansa, involving more than 8,000 students. In addition, awareness and community engagement campaigns were designed through school events, community meetings and social media activities to involve as many girls as possible.

A Salesian noted, “Thanks to the support of many benefactors, the project has succeeded in helping to improve school attendance, self-esteem and gender equality, as well as awareness of the impact of disposable products. Parents and teachers openly recognized that menstruation is one of the main causes of absenteeism and welcomed the proposal for reusable sanitary pads.”

Community schools proved to be the most effective way to reach the girls who are most vulnerable. Involving parents, educators, and community leaders at an early state is essential to reduce stigma and promote acceptance of the proposed solutions.

The project launched with the Her and His Gift Foundation demonstrates that simple, sustainable and youth-led solutions can bring about real and lasting change. It is not just about distributing a product, it is an intervention that restores dignity, protects the right to education and nurtures environmental awareness in the younger generation.

The Salesian Mission Office in Turin, Italy, highlighted that this project began in May 2025 and has made significant progress, thanks to the generosity of donors. They report, “With further support and a shared commitment between schools, families and communities, the experience gained in Zambia can become a model that can be replicated in other vulnerable communities. We are grateful for the donors who have supported this initiative.”

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Zambia – Restoring dignity and protecting the future of girls

Salesian Missions – Zambia

UNICEF – Zambia