The beautiful girl in all the pictures is Jessica Luiru. She is a Congolese American girl currently studying at Deerfield Academy, located in Deerfield, Massachusetts, in the United States of America. When I first had a conversation with Jessica on WhatsApp, I tried to picture and imagine who Jessica is, as I usually do when I am discussing with somebody I have never met. Her written communication was so gracious, respectful, confident and deeply engaging. It was so easy for me to conclude that I was discussing with a young girl driven by compassion, purpose and very intelligent.

My discussion with Jessica centred on a project she had submitted to her school related to menstrual hygiene and health, which was awarded the Center for Service and Global Citizenship (CSGC) Prize.

First of all, I was so impressed by a school which has a whole program to support and empower students to be globally engaged in local initiatives. Jessica's project focused on addressing the lack of menstrual education, poor access to sanitary products for managing menstruation, fighting stigma and taboos around menstruation. Most importantly, she wanted to contribute to improving schoolgirls’ attendance and confidence by offering them washable and reusable sanitary pads.

As she had wished, 500 underprivileged schoolgirls were identified in the commune Karusi/ Province Gitega and local administrative leaders were informed about Jessica’s visit. On 23rd July 2025, Jessica arrived at lycée Buhiga, where more than 500 schoolgirls were curiously waiting for her in the big hall. Many of those girls came from homes where sanitary pads are a luxury, and some had never received proper education on menstruation because the topic is very taboo.

The session began with a short prayer led by one of the girls. And then followed Jessica’s presentation of her project and herself. The look of awe on the girl’s face while listening to her spoke volumes. They were so grateful and happy to meet Jessica.  The girls paid close attention and were eager to learn more during Jessica's teaching. Jessica's session was age-appropriate about menstrual health: what it is, why it matters to talk about it, and how to manage it safely with dignity. The girls listened attentively. Their attentiveness reflected a strong desire to understand more, and they participated actively through the session and asked questions to Jessica.

The menstrual health Education done by Jessica was followed by the sanitary pads. Although we had invited only 500 girls for the pad’s distribution, the hall was full of more than 700 girls. The distribution lasted longer than planned as many girls, eager to share the opportunity, invited their friends to attend. During the session, one of the girls took a moment to express her sincere gratitude not only for receiving the sanitary pads but also for the essential education on menstrual health provided by Jessica.

Jessica’s work has brought dignity to nearly 500 girls between the ages of 11 and 21, dignity that means more than just access to menstrual products. It means a real chance to stay in school, to avoid early pregnancies, and to break free from the cycles of intergenerational poverty that continue to widen the gender gap across communities in Burundi and beyond. By addressing the taboo of menstruation with compassion and clarity, Jessica has not only educated young girls but has restored their confidence and given them agency over their own bodies and futures.

This is not the end; it is the beginning. Jessica, in partnership with SaCoDé, is committed to building on this momentum by working on a broader project aimed at securing funding to scale solutions for girls in remote villages in Burundi and across Africa. Through local collaboration and respect for traditional values, SaCoDé and Jessica intend to design impactful solutions that are not only efficient but also owned and embraced by the communities they serve. The fight against period poverty is a fight for equity, dignity, and opportunity. And with young leaders like Jessica and organizations like SaCoDé, there is hope, not just for 500 girls, but for millions more across Burundi and the continent.

By Grace Francoise NIBIZI Founder and Executive Director of SaCoDé