Planting Seeds of Change: Ugandan School Girls Take Charge of Their Health and Education
In Uganda, girls face significant challenges when it comes to health, hygiene, and education. Many struggle to access basic sanitary products, which often forces them to miss school during their menstrual cycles, perpetuating a cycle of inequality and limiting their opportunities for a brighter future. However, at Kyabakulungo Primary School, a group of determined young girls decided to take matters into their own hands, inspired by the Pay-it-Forward model and the Wezesha Vijana Program.
Kyabakulungo Primary School joined the Pay-it-Forward initiative in 2024, becoming part of a growing movement to empower students with the tools and knowledge to create sustainable change in their communities. Through the Asante Africa Foundation Wezesha Vijana Program, the students were introduced to lessons on leadership, entrepreneurship, health, hygiene, and teamwork. The program’s emphasis on self-reliance and community impact resonated deeply with the girls, who quickly identified a pressing issue they wanted to address: the lack of access to sanitary products for girls in their school.
Recognizing the importance of menstrual hygiene for girls’ education, the students decided to launch a project that would not only keep them united but also generate income to provide sanitary pads for their peers. With the support of their head teacher, the girls raised an initial 50,000 Ugandan shillings (approximately $13 USD) and used the funds to purchase 100 suckers of matooke (bananas) to plant. Their vision was simple yet powerful: cultivate the bananas, harvest them, and use the profits to fund their initiative.
The girls formed a club and worked together as a team, tending to the banana plants with care and dedication. Their collaboration and commitment to the project were inspiring, as they balanced their studies with the responsibilities of nurturing their budding enterprise. The matooke project became more than just a source of income—it became a symbol of their resilience, creativity, and determination to find solutions for the challenges they faced.
As the banana plants grow, so does the hope and confidence of the girls at Kyabakulungo Primary School. They envision a future where no girl in their school has to miss classes due to a lack of sanitary products. When given the opportunity and the support to lead, young people can create meaningful change. The Wezesha Vijana Program provided the foundation, but it was the girls’ courage and initiative that turned their vision into reality. By taking the Pay-it-Forward model to heart, they are not only addressing a critical need in their community but also inspiring others to believe in the power of collective action and self-empowerment.