With UK-support, World Vision donates much-needed menstrual hygiene kits to schools
BY NED GAGAHE
Education for female students of three schools on Guadalcanal is set to improve with the donation of much-needed menstrual hygiene kits.
With support from the United Kingdom, the World Vision Solomon Islands (WVSI) handed over the materials on Wednesday and Thursday last week.
This assistance is seen as a significant step towards ensuring girls can consistently attend their classes, a statement from the WVSI yesterday [March 31] said.
Funded generously by the British High Commission in Honiara, this project aims to address challenges girls face in managing their menstruation, which can lead to absenteeism and hinder their educational progress, WVSI statement said.
“The initiative will directly benefit the female students of St Francis and Selwyn College National Secondary School, along with Potau Community High School, all located in Guadalcanal province,” WVSI said.
Speaking at the handover events, WVSI highlighted the importance of creating a supportive environment for girls’ education.
WVSI emphasised that access to menstrual hygiene products is a crucial factor in enabling girls to participate fully in school activities without interruption.
The British High Commission underscored their commitment to supporting initiatives that promote gender equality and empower girls in the Solomon Islands.
The High Commission said it was happy to partner with WVSI on this vital project, which directly addresses a key barrier to girls’ education.
WVSI also acknowledged the valuable contribution of MJ Enterprise, a local company that produces the “Kaleko SteiFree” reusable pads.
These locally manufactured, sustainable pads form a key component of the hygiene kits being distributed to the schools, the WVSI statement said.
The handover ceremonies were met with gratitude and excitement by the students and staff of both St. Francis Community High School and Selwyn College.
The provision of these menstrual hygiene kits is expected to have a positive impact on the girls’ confidence and attendance, ultimately contributing to their academic success, the WVSI statement said.
This initiative represents a collaborative effort to break down barriers and ensure that girls in the Solomon Islands have equal opportunities to learn and thrive.
The handover ceremonies were attended by representatives from WVSI, the British High Commission, local producer MJ Enterprise, school staff and enthusiastic students, the statement said.
Meanwhile, this donation by the UK high commission and WVSI is an added value to the initiative to help the livelihoods of females across the country.
Early in March this year the Project Period Tax Reform came to media spotlight with the notion to remove tax from menstrual hygiene products.
This voluntary, youth-led initiative has gained a lot of support and has raised awareness around schools.
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