Written by Rehema Masha, Funzo Project Mentor in Kilifi, and Rosenell Nyakinyua, Project Officer – Coastal Region, CFK Africa.
In Matsangoni, members of CFK Africa’s Girls’ Parliament put their learning into action. They raised their voices on an issue that had long been at the forefront of their minds: access to sanitary towels.
Across Kenya, menstruation is still surrounded by silence and stigma, especially for girls living in slums. Many girls grow up without accurate information, safe spaces to ask questions, or consistent access to menstrual hygiene products. Only about half of Kenyan women and girls feel comfortable discussing menstruation at home.
At the Matsangoni Youth Friendly Center in Kilifi, CFK Africa hosts a Menstrual Hygiene Lab that offers girls a safe space to access sanitary towels and learn about menstrual hygiene. Primarily accessed by girls within walking distance, CFK’s Girls Parliamentarians noticed that girls from far‑flung villages struggled to reach it. Transport costs to the center alone could equal the price of the pads themselves, leaving many girls in rural villages without essential menstrual products.
Without reliable access to sanitary towels, many girls miss days at school. Over time, the increased absenteeism exposes them to other vulnerabilities like early pregnancies and even child marriages.
CFK’s Girls’ Parliament exists precisely for moments like this. Made up of 24 young leaders, the parliament in Kilifi County empowers girls to know their rights, discuss their challenges, and formulate solutions.
The girls created an advocacy plan to lobby the area chief, an influential community leader, on this critical need. They organized a community dialogue with the chief to share the realities faced by girls across Matsangoni’s 65 villages and to request support in ensuring menstrual dignity for all, especially in more remote areas.
Their confidence and courage sparked action. In partnership with UK-based charity, Freedom for Girls, and the local organization, Youth for Sustainable Development, the chief helped mobilize over 1,000 packs of reusable sanitary pads for distribution to girls and young women at a special community event. The turnout was overwhelming, the energy inspiring, and the impact immediate.
These reusable pads, which are eco‑friendly, made of cotton, and washed after use, are more sustainable in communities where single-use sanitary towels or other menstrual hygiene products are hard to come by. For many, it was the first time they felt seen, supported, and able to manage their periods with dignity. The event also affirmed the importance of CFK’s Menstrual Hygiene lab, which has become an important platform where girls have more open conversations about their experiences and lived realities. It was a victory of effective collaboration between the Girls Parliamentarians and the larger community.
For the girls leading the change, the success was rewarding. As Blessin, Chair of the Girls’ Parliament, shared,
“It was such an honor to see that one small move of faith can bear such fruits. We thank the area chief for listening to our call and to the plight of girls in the community. This move will ensure that girls do not miss school days and can also bleed with dignity.”
This is what change looks like: girls raising their voices on real issues affecting them, leaders listening, and communities coming together to develop sustainable solutions.
When girls lead, entire communities move forward.
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***In honor of our 25th anniversary in 2026, this story is #2 of 25 Stories of Change, shared throughout the year and featuring youth and community leaders whose lives have been transformed by CFK Africa.