Breaking the Barriers on Women’s Health

It’s estimated that young girls miss about 20% of the school year due to women’s health issues and the stigma surrounding it in Sub-Saharan Africa. For many girls in Kenya, one week a month is spent at home, and that’s IF they continue going to school at all. For many, arranged marriages are what follows. The reality of this burden is all too real for the young ladies our teams interact with. 

Over the past several months, our water team has been establishing relationships with local leaders and villages in West Pokot. This region of Kenya is extremely dry and remote, so you can imagine the excitement around clean water. Over time, the conversations with local elders have identified a need for education on the value of women, women’s health and hygiene, and the stigma surrounding it. 

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A few weeks ago, our team was able to fulfill that need! Our team spent the day providing education on the purpose of menstruation, hygiene needs surrounding women’s health, and the value of women in a society. Women and young girls in attendance received the much-needed reassurance of their value and supplies to allow them to go on with life for the entirety of the month. No more will women and young ladies in the villages of West Pokot be forced to stay home a week every month due to a lack of supplies or stigma. 

Over time, our water team, in partnership with the local pastor, will continue to have discussions on the value of women with the elders of the communities. Over time, we hope to see continued change. But for today, we praise the Lord for the small barriers being broken and improved women’s health and hygiene! 

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