Vivian Namuddu   a senior three student at Masese Seed Secondary School in Jinja district, is rewriting the narrative for girls in her school community. Vivian has witnessed firsthand the struggles many girls face in accessing menstrual hygiene products. For many, the lack of pads is not just a health challenge but a life-changing one that can lead to early pregnancies, school dropouts, and shattered dreams.  

Period poverty remains a widespread barrier to girls’ education across Uganda, causing absenteeism, shame, and preventable dropouts. Menstruation, though natural, often becomes a monthly crisis when pads are unaffordable or unavailable. The stigma and silence surrounding it translate into lost classroom time and, for many girls, lost futures. Despite increased access to education, menstrual health challenges continue to undermine girls’ dignity, safety, and success.   “Some girls are so desperate that they go to strangers to ask for pads,” Vivian explains.

“But this often leads to terrible consequences. Many of them are exploited, and some end up pregnant. Others feel so ashamed that they stop coming to school.”  The statistics are sobering. In many parts of Uganda, girls miss several school days each month because they lack menstrual products. Over time, these missed days lead to poor academic performance and, for many, dropping out. 

For Vivian, this was unacceptable. She knew something had to change.  Her solution was both practical and empowering. She started a group at her school where girls learn to sew reusable pads during art lessons. The goal is simple: teach girls to make their own pads so they don’t have to rely on anyone else.  

“At first, it was just a few of us,” Vivian recalls. “We didn’t have many materials, but we used what we could find, old fabric, thread, and needles. Slowly, more girls joined, and now it’s become something much bigger.”  

The group has grown into a safe space where girls learn valuable skills and encourage one another. They share experiences and make sure no one feels left out.  “Before, I used to feel so embarrassed when I got my period,” says Aisha, a Senior Two student in the group. “I would stay home because I didn’t have pads, and I was afraid of being teased. But now, I feel confident because I know how to make my own pads. I don’t have to depend on anyone.”  

Vivian’s initiative does more than provide pads. It breaks the cycle of dependency and vulnerability that so many girls face. By teaching them how to make reusable pads, she is giving her peers the tools they need to take control of their own lives.  “Making pads is not just about solving a problem,” Vivian says. “It’s about showing girls that they are capable of solving their own problems.”  

Despite the progress, Vivian dreams of expanding the initiative to her wider community so that no girl misses school because of her period. She believes every girl deserves to learn, to dream and to succeed. One stitch at a time, Vivian Namuddu is proving that change is possible and that no girl should ever have to choose between her period and her education.

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