Recently, the Kosmotive team with the donation from Greater Good (Greatergood.com) embarked on a meaningful visit to G.S Nyarubare and E.S Gakuta, two schools located in the Twumba sector of Karongi district, a rural area in the Western Province of Rwanda, reflecting our mission to reach the most underserved areas. Our mission was simple yet powerful: to equip girls with menstrual hygiene products, provide education on sexual and reproductive health (SRH), and break the stigma surrounding menstruation.

Menstrual Stigma & Misinformation: A Silent Barrier

Before every donation, we hold a reproductive health discussion with the beneficiaries. Lack of information, misinformation, and the stigma surrounding menstruation remain a major issue in rural areas in Rwanda. Some girls from the schools we visited fear letting men including their parents, know they have gotten their periods, and are reluctant to express their need for sanitary pads. Some of them, due to stigma and deep-rooted taboos around the subject, avoid discussions around menstruation with others.

Fear of self-expression and reservation in general is a huge barrier we often face when interacting with these students, usually requiring the Kosmotive team to hand out sticky notes for them to write down their thoughts and questions, some of which are shared here. Note that the discussions are held in Kinyarwanda (native language) and the translations are provided in the caption.

The Lack of Correct Information and Misconceptions about sexual and reproductive health were prevalent, as can be observed from the questions asked by the students during the discussions. This highlights the urgent need for comprehensive SRH education in schools to dispel myths and empower young girls with factual and reliable information.

Listening to the Girls: Challenges & Insights

During our interactive discussions, the girls shared their experiences, struggles, and knowledge regarding menstruation and reproductive health. When asked about menstrual hygiene management, many students shared that the rely on cloth pieces due to limited access to sanitary products posed by the financial burden which comes with having to buy Sanitary pads every month for period management.

One of the biggest challenges they faced with Cloth use is that it gets full easily and they usually have to walk a long distance back home to change when their clothes get soaked, often disrupting their education. Additionally, many students had little to no knowledge about reusable sanitary pads, though a few had come across KosmoPads through ads.

A Safe Space for Girls: The Role of  ‘Icyumba cy’umukobwa’

Both schools have a dedicated ‘Icyumba cy’umukobwa’ (Girl’s Room) — a crucial safe space, managed by a female matron whom the students refer to as “Shangazi” meaning Auntie. The room is equipped with sanitary pads, painkillers, towels, a bed, and water to provide basic necessities and enable the girls to manage their periods with dignity. Recognizing the importance of sustainable menstrual solutions, we provided KosmoPads to be stored in these rooms and distributed to students in times of need, ensuring that no girl has to miss school or disrupt her classes due to menstruation.

Join Us in Breaking the Barriers!

This visit reaffirmed the urgent need for menstrual health advocacy and comprehensive sexual education in schools. No girl should feel ashamed of her period, lack access to safe menstrual products, or struggle with misinformation about her own body. At Kosmotive, we are dedicated to Empowering girls and women and promoting women’s reproductive health and rights. Our initiatives focus on education, advocacy, and community engagement, raising awareness around Reproductive Health and ending period poverty.

With support from Government of Rwanda, our partners, and donors, we are able to impact girls’ and women’s reproductive health and draw closer to creating a world where every girl in Rwanda and beyond can manage her period with dignity.

To support our cause, you can do any of the following:

• Donate to help us provide more KosmoPads and menstrual education sessions in schools
• Spread awareness by sharing this message to fight period stigma
• Advocate for improved SRH education among peers and in schools to ensure every girl has access to the knowledge she deserves
• Follow us on our social media channels to help us reach a wider audience and create more impact. (LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook)