Flow of Care: SUNSEP’s Donation Drive in Korogocho

Period poverty in low-income neighbourhoods is a hidden problem that affects millions of school-going girls in Nairobi and beyond. According to a 2024 UN report, 65% of women and girls in Kenya lack access to hygienic sanitary products. The loss of time, shame and health complications arising from using alternative forms of sanitation lead to loss in productivity, self-esteem problems and health complications that can easily be avoided with the right products.

In view of this, the Strathmore University Nonprofits, Social Enterprises, and Philanthropy hub (SUNSEP) was in Korogocho on 29th May 2026 at Tortola School Hall, hosted by the Restoring Dignity Foundation, for the World Menstrual Hygiene Day. The day saw 500 girls from six schools represented, with a morning packed with educational sessions and mentorship from those who came in to celebrate womanhood with the girls. Six schools were represented: Tortola School, Church Road Education Centre, Lucy Centre, Maranatha School, Redhill School and Prince Anduru School.

“It was a really moving day. To be in the presence of such young girls who are in a very unfortunate predicament. All the girls received a packet of sanitary towels and a bottle of soda. Most were really happy, but what broke me was when a girl came after the event was over and, as everyone else was asking for more soda, this particular one said she doesn’t need a soda; she needs an extra packet of pads.” Dorcas Otieno, Faculty, SBS

Besides the individual donations, all 6 schools received an emergency sanitary towel box (each box contains 36 packets of pads. Additionally, each packet has 8 individual sanitary towels) for at-school emergencies.

Help is still needed to ensure the girls stay in school. Such an effort needs a long-term donation or sustainability plan that ensures all girls in all schools are catered for. Dr William Muriithi, the hub lead of SUNSEP, is keen to make such initiatives more impactful at the individual level. The team hopes to pay another visit on the 16^th of June to celebrate the Day of the African Child in line with the 2026 theme: “Ensuring universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene for every child in Africa”

The hub hopes to raise more donations, both in cash and in kind, to support efforts to bring hope and dignity to girls in Korogocho. Donations start from as low as Ksh. 100 for a packet of pads, to a full menstrual hygiene kit donation of Ksh 3,000 per girl. The kit includes: 12 packets of pads (a year’s supply), the Menstrupedia Comic Book, 5 panties, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and two 1-kg bars of soap. Donors are also free to make any combination within their budget, including purchasing Emergency Boxes for schools.

Should you like to help in this effort at an individual or corporate level, kindly contact Dorcas Otieno on dotieno@strathmore.edu

If you would like to register as a volunteer to help fundraise or collect pads, please register at https://forms.gle/pJYL7azA9vA776ZA6

Article written by Dorcas Otieno, who represented SUNSEP at Korogosho Menstrual Day