ISHURE RY'INYENYERI*
Schools where girls learn without missing class because of their period.
When girls have knowledge, products, and a supportive environment, school becomes a place of confidence rather than anxiety.
*A school with stars (Kirundi)
We help schools become safer, more supportive places for girls to manage menstruation with dignity, stay engaged in learning, and build knowledge that will serve them throughout their lives. Built on UNICEF’s 3-Star School Approach and adapted to the realities of Burundi, this pillar of our integrated approach combines menstrual health education, access to reusable pads, and improved sanitation facilities to remove barriers that keep girls from reaching their potential.
THE CHALLENGE
Menstruation should not interrupt a girl's education.
School should be a place where every student can learn, participate, and prepare for the future. Yet for many girls in Burundi, managing menstruation at school remains a significant challenge. Limited access to information, inadequate sanitation facilities, and a lack of menstrual products can turn a normal part of life into a barrier to education.
59% of girls report missing 4–5 days of school each month during their periods.
Missing classes means missed lessons, reduced participation, and fewer opportunities to keep up with peers academically.
95% of girls say they're unable to change their pads at school because of inadequate facilities.
Without safe, private and hygienic spaces, managing menstruation during the school day can become uncomfortable, stressful and undignified.
96% of girls report receiving no menstrual health education at school.
Many girls experience their first periods without accurate information about their bodies, while boys often receive little guidance on how to understand and support their peers.
OUR SOLUTION
Creating the conditions for girls to succeed at school.
We combine menstrual health education, access to reusable pads and improved sanitation facilities, to help girls learn, participate and thrive.
We train teachers to lead school clubs where students learn about puberty, menstruation, hygiene, reproductive health and healthy relationships in a safe and supportive environment. Club members do more than learn—they become peer educators: equipped with accurate information and practical knowledge, they share what they learn with classmates, friends, and family, helping spread awareness throughout the school and beyond.
Furthermore, students in Ishure ry'Inyenyeri clubs are introduced to OKY-Burundi, our free menstrual health and period-tracking app, designed with and for Burundian adolescents.
Schools receive support to improve sanitation facilities, so students have access to cleaner, safer, and more private spaces. This may include improvements to toilets, handwashing facilities, water access, and spaces where girls can manage menstruation comfortably and discreetly.
"Today, girls pay more attention to their hygiene. And they no longer have to leave school because of their periods. Agateka came at the right time. It has also helped parents a lot, because they no longer have to keep buying disposable pads."
Anne-Marie
Teacher at a partner school in Makamba
IMPACT
When schools become supportive, girls thrive.
220,417
girls have received free Agateka reusable pads
30%
reduction in menstruation-related absenteeism
62%
increase in access to menstrual-health support at school
When girls have access to menstrual products, safe sanitation, and supportive school environments, education interruption decreases and confidence grows. Across partner schools, we've seen improvements in school attendance during menstruation, stronger menstrual health knowledge, and greater participation from girls who previously navigated their periods in silence or discomfort.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?