Empowering Girls Through Pad-Making Training in Hoima City and Kikuube District

Name of Organisation: Tackle

Tackle is implementing a transformative menstrual health programme aimed at supporting Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in Greater Hoima. The initiative focuses on addressing period inequality to improve girls’ educational outcomes and long-term livelihoods. In this quarter, Tackle launched practical training on making reusable menstrual pads across 40 programme schools.

The training targeted AGYW aged 12–18 and sought to promote better menstrual hygiene management, reduce absenteeism among schoolgirls, fight period poverty, challenge taboos surrounding menstruation, and encouraged environmentally sustainable practices. The program’s impact has extended beyond the classrooms; into the homes of participants. One parent from Kikuube district shared how the training has transformed her daughter’s life, and their entire household: “I thank Tackle for helping my daughter.

She used to struggle during her periods because I couldn’t always afford to buy sanitary pads. She had to use sponges torn from an old mattress or cloth from worn-out clothes. Blood often leaked through her dress, which caused her a lot of stigma. As a result, she regularly missed school especially on the second day of her period every month. As a parent, I understood her struggle. Thanks to the training, she now knows how to make reusable sanitary pads using materials we can easily find.

She’s ready to teach me and her siblings. I will ensure we get the supplies so we can all benefit from this knowledge. I’ll also make my own pads, which will save money and protect us from infections caused by unhygienic materials. I know the girls who have taken part in this training are gaining so much not just in knowledge, but in confidence, health, and opportunity.” This initiative is not only keeping girls in school, but also helping to build healthier families, stronger communities, and a more empowered generation of young women.