Menstrual Health

Going with the flow

Over this summer 2019, a part of the Kite Oxford committee travelled to Nairobi. Together, the two teams started on our new Menstrual Health Project. 

Menstrual health issues were highlighted to the Nairobi committee as a cause of school drop-outs and missed school days for girls by our own mentorship scheme surveys. Issues on this topic in Kenya concern a lack of education about menstruation and reproductive health, as well as an issue of ensuring that all girls and women have access to sanitation products to manage their periods. In this light, Kite Oxford-Nairobi are aiming to pilot a new scheme to educate high school girls and boys about puberty and periods and to provide access to a choice of sanitary products. Menstruation is a natural process that everyone deserves to understand and manage to look after and care for their body. 

The scheme that Kite-Oxford Nairobi will offer includes educational sessions in high schools from trained university ambassadors, and also provision of a choice of products to help with menstrual hygiene management. This is alongside advice on how to use the sustainable products, such as cups and reusable pads. In developing the project, we utilise Kite Oxford-Nairobi's organisational strengths of being uniquely placed at a university-level position to raise awareness and facilitate change. We also believe that high school students may gain and feel more comfortable asking questions and learning about these important topics from university students who may be more relatable or role models. 

We are really excited to start this project, focussing on education and empowering young females through choice. 

Visit our blog - Going with the flow to find out more on our research!