An ordinary school day at Tochi Primary School, it was, much like any other, marked by the usual hushed whispers and averted glances whenever a girl needed to manage her period.
Then, unexpectedly, it shift into a pivotal moment that defied expectations. This change wasn’t brought about by a new lesson plan, but by the courage to shatter a profound silence that for far too long have ravaged this community. Young girls in this society have grappled with the invisible burdens of menstrual hygiene management, a struggle amplified by a pervasive culture of secrecy, shame, and deeply entrenched myths.
This poignant reality often leads to severe challenges, including educational disruption, critical health risks, and diminished self-esteem. The absence of accurate knowledge, essential menstrual products, and safe spaces for discourse creates an environment where girls are forced to navigate this natural biological process in isolation, truly enduring in silence.
With support from The Advocacy Project, Gulu Disabled Persons Organization and Her Worth Foundation are determined break the ice.
Training complete, spirits high! It’s inspiring to see the pride and joy on their faces as they hold their very own handmade reusable sanitary pads. This is what empowerment looks like!
“The worst is when I’m in class and feel it might be leaking,” Amolo recounted, her voice barely a whisper, echoing the hidden anxieties of countless peers. “I sit stiff, trying not to move. If I stand up, everyone will see. The boys, they tease you. They call out names, ‘She’s dirty!’ or ‘She’s stinking!’ Sometimes, if a stain appears, they point and laugh. The shame… it’s like a fire inside me, so I take the pain in silence.”
Amolo’s words lay bare the profound personal cost of period poverty and societal stigma, highlighting the urgent need for interventions that offer not just products, but dignity, knowledge, and empowerment to end this cycle of unspoken suffering.
Hands-on empowerment! Her Worth Foundation’s instructor shows the way to dignified, sustainable menstrual health with reusable pads.
In this community, menstruation is often shrouded in harmful myths and deep-seated stigma, extending far beyond a simple lack of products. Girls here frequently face beliefs that their periods make them impure or unclean, leading to social isolation from daily routine, religious ceremonies, or even contact with family members. Dangerous misconceptions persist, such as menstrual blood possessing harmful properties, or the idea that menstruation signifies a girl’s immediate “readiness for marriage.”
These pervasive myths fuel immense fear and shame, hindering open discussion and preventing girls from seeking the accurate information and support they desperately need. This cultural silence, compounded by taboos around hygienic practices like sun-drying reusable cloths, severely impacts girls’ physical health, mental well-being, and their fundamental right to education, perpetuating their quiet burden.
Amolo, a confident learner, takes the lead, explaining the best ways to care for reusable sanitary pads to her peers, with Dr. Annah observing.
Recognizing this profound challenge, our team then initiated a comprehensive session on Menstrual Health & Hygiene and Life Skills Education. When our team of facilitators from Gulu Disabled Persons Organization and Her Worth Foundation began the session, there was an initial hesitation, but as we started to speak openly about menstruation, a palpable sense of relief spread through the room. We systematically demystified the menstrual cycle and the female reproductive system, actively busting prevalent myths that have historically condemned girls to isolation.
As the chain was broken, you could see the girls visibly relax, with many sharing their own experiences for the first time. Replacing unfounded fears with scientific facts and equipping them with practical hygiene practices, self-care strategies, and crucial life skills such as self-esteem, communication, and boundary-setting, the program fostered an environment where girls could normalize their physiological processes and navigate puberty with confidence.
This pivotal step aims to dismantle the barriers that force girls into bearing their burdens alone. This single day, through open dialogue and practical skills, truly marked a turning point, transforming a burden into an embrace of self-awareness and dignity for the girlchild of Tochi Primary School.
After comprehensive training from Her Worth Foundation, these dedicated pupils are now proudly stitching their own reusable sanitary pads.
The training then transitioned to an introduction to Reusable Sanitary Pad Making, transforming a simple craft into a powerful tool for self-sufficiency and a tangible solution to period poverty.
Through step-by-step demonstrations by Her Worth Foundation, girls learned to craft sustainable menstrual products using readily available local materials, illustrating that empowerment isn’t contingent on expensive, imported goods. This hands-on approach directly addresses the lack of access that leaves them enduring in isolation, the practical session was a profound moment of engagement, as participants independently stitched their own pads, igniting a sense of accomplishment and pride.
Crucially, detailed instruction on the care and maintenance of reusable pads were provided to ensure longevity, optimal hygiene, and continued safety, offering a practical pathway out of unspoken pain.
Every stitch tells a story of newfound capability! They’re not just making pads; they’re actively shaping a more independent and sustainable future for themselves.
The transformation at Tochi Primary is merely a beginning. While Amolo and her peers now stand taller, equipped with knowledge and tools, countless other girls across the region continue their daily battle against period poverty and deeply ingrained stigma, silently enduring. Their dignity, education, and futures hang in the balance.
Will you answer their quiet plea for support? Will you support us break more chains of silence and empower every girl to embrace her natural cycle with pride? The journey to widespread menstrual equity is long, but with you, we can rewrite the narrative for thousands of girls and ignite their dreams. As their whispers fade to silence, their pain amplifies!
Posted By OKWIR JOSEPH JOHNS
Posted Jul 28th, 2025
35 Comments
Oroma Wendy Patience
July 29, 2025
What an incredibly powerful heartwarming and inspiring account of positive change; it truly opens your eyes to the struggles girls endure because of menstrual stigma and period poverty. Seeing the transformation at Tochi Primary School is genuinely inspiring – it gives me so much hope. A massive kudos to Gulu Disabled Persons Organisation and Her Worth Foundation for their impactful work. That call to action is so compelling, and honestly, I’m moved to get involved and support this noble cause. Think about it: together, we actually can rewrite the narrative for thousands of girls. What a difference we could make!
OKWIR JOSEPH JOHNS
July 29, 2025
Absolutely inspiring. The impact is profound, and your passion to support this cause is deeply commendable.
Aaron Bailey
July 29, 2025
It was a great training, and a great first step toward making a bigger difference with the partnership between GDPO and Her Worth
OKWIR JOSEPH JOHNS
July 29, 2025
Thank you very much Aaron, this is never possible without you, we all made it possible and we certainly can do much more to empower many more young girls in the region.
Iain Guest
July 29, 2025
Hi Joe. This is one of the best pieces of writing I have read on this sensitive subject and the photos are GREAT! You make sense of the issue and show why training is so important. You’re not just showing girls how to make and use the pads – you’re encouraging them to speak out about the issue, without shame and embarrassment. Well done to the GDPU team, to Her Worth and to your Peace Fellow Aaron. We are so happy to support GDPU’s partnership with Her Worth!
OKWIR JOSEPH JOHNS
July 29, 2025
Your feedback truly validates our work. It’s incredibly rewarding to know the piece clarified the issue and highlighted the crucial role of empowering girls’ voices beyond just practical training. Our team at GDPO and Her Worth Foundation will be so encouraged by your support for our partnership. Thank you!
Aaron Bailey
July 29, 2025
It was a great training and a great first step making a difference and partnering the GDPO with Her worth
Aaron Bailey
July 29, 2025
The training went great, and it was a great first step for the partnership between GDPO and Her Worth
Allen Akankunda
August 5, 2025
Great work 👏
LOKII WILLY SAM
August 5, 2025
I have personally followed how HerWorth and GDPU have impacted the lives of many people, young and otherwise.
I think the work they do is noble
Nambasa Asia
August 5, 2025
Great work with a lot of sacrifices and dedication plus determination
Anena Jennifer
August 5, 2025
This is great thanks so much her Worth foundation for the wonderful work you are doing to improve on the hygiene and reducing period poverty amongst Young people with disabilities inclusion.
Egwale Godwin
August 5, 2025
Wow amazing work Ending period poverty
Genkimar Initiative
August 5, 2025
Wow, Her Worth Foundation is truly making a difference in the lives of girls! Providing a safe space and access to hygienic products is a game-changer for their health, education, and overall well-being. Kudos to the team for their tireless efforts to empower girls and break down barriers. You’re helping to create a more inclusive and supportive community for all! 🙌
Jay
August 5, 2025
Continue the great work 🙏
Goretti Oroma
August 5, 2025
This is so inspiring. Thank you so much for all that you are doing for our communities
Jackson Okello
August 5, 2025
I participated in the 3rd Edition of Gulu Menstrual Hygiene Run, organized by Her Worth Foundation. I am so happy seeing the impacts from the proceeds from the Run already benefitting many young girls in our communities.
Prisca Elizabeth Aber
August 5, 2025
We are thrilled with the amazing work being done by HERWORTH foundation. Our young girls are learning a lot and our teenage mothersare getting hopes of a brighter future
Weldone team
Otim Stephen
August 5, 2025
This is such a powerful and inspiring account of the transformative work being done by Gulu Disabled Persons Union and Her Worth Foundation! The courage to address menstrual stigma head-on and empower young girls with knowledge, skills, and dignity is truly commendable. Amolo’s story and the hands-on training for reusable sanitary pads highlight the profound impact of this initiative. Thank you, Joseph, for sharing this moving narrative and shining a light on the importance of menstrual equity. I’m inspired to support this cause and help break the chains of silence for more girls in the region. Keep up the incredible work!
Kigemuzi Joh
August 5, 2025
Great work keep this wonderful job
Jay
August 5, 2025
Great work
Angom Agness
August 5, 2025
Thank you her worth for making a difference in making a difference in. Her dignity is being respected
Akello Diana Hope
August 5, 2025
The work you’re doing is crucial in breaking down barriers and promoting menstrual health awareness.Your organization is as well making a real difference in the lives of young girls, empowering them with dignity and confidence.Kudos🤝
Charles
August 5, 2025
Right from the slogan I should call it “Breaking the Chains of Silent Pain” this is an indelible milestone that you are doing. Many girls out are dying in silence, swayed by myths that degrade their menstrual health and in a long run, mental health.
These trainings equip these young ladies with the basic skills of not only possessing the Menstrual kits, but also advocating for their rights since they feel a big sense of recognition in the society. I must say this is the best initiative ever. Thank you Her worth foundation, thank you, GDPU.
Kudos for the initiative, thumbs up for accepting the calling of changing lives in the communities.
Ocan Mathew
August 5, 2025
A great initiative
Ben Okeny
August 5, 2025
I must say I’m really moved by the initiatives being taken by HER WORTH FOUNDATION especially on creating awareness bout the menstrual hygiene in early teenage girls in our schools and the surrounding rural settings. This has really helped to break the chains of silent suffering which has been a shield to our progress for so long and has kept many isolated but however, with the efforts of HER WORTH FOUNDATION, these young girls got connected to opportunities they never had before and this has created space for growth and solidarity. Lastly I would the team to extend their voices to part of East Acholi.
Thank you
Ben Okeny
August 5, 2025
This team of young vibrant people have already made a lot of impact in our societies and this calls our support because appreciating their efforts by words is not enough.
Let’s accept the positive changes in our communities
Gisele Mujawamariya
August 5, 2025
Thank you so much for the incredible work you are doing..
Hannah Arinaitwe
August 5, 2025
Thank you for the good work, Herworth.
Proscovia
August 5, 2025
This organization is doing wonders in the lives of teenagers,this will surely reduce the level of school dropout.may GOD bless your work
Joan Grace Abeja
August 5, 2025
Am Soo proud of the work Her Worth Foundation is doing to the community because the positive impact can clearly be seen in our community. I also call upon other organizations, individuals to work hand in hand with Her Worth Foundation to bring more positive impacts in our community.
Daphine
August 6, 2025
Your help made all the difference, girl child is surely blessed to have someone the take away their insecurities. Your generosity and care never go unnoticed.
Adyero phoebe faith
August 6, 2025
Young vibrant youths with so much capability is raising hopes and worthiness in young whites and society at large
Dicken Rubangakene
August 6, 2025
This is such powerful and transformative work! Breaking the silence around menstruation is not just about hygiene—it’s about dignity, education, and empowering girls to thrive without shame. The reusable pad-making initiative is especially inspiring, as it equips girls with sustainable tools for independence. Amolo’s story highlights why these efforts matter so deeply. How can supporters help scale this program to reach even more communities? Keep igniting change—you’re rewriting futures!
Atuheire Mbanza Ruth
August 13, 2025
Kudos to the HerWorth foundation for the amazing work you’re doing in the community
Your dedication and efforts are truly making a positive impact and improving lives. Keep up the fantastic work