Isolering, social stigmatisering, skam och utebliven utbildning är något flickor i Uganda drabbas av när de börjar menstruera. Hjälp oss att ändra på detta genom att stötta vårt arbete med projektet Uganda Her Future.

EtC tillsammans med några gymnasieelever är i uppstarten av projektet “Uganda Her Future”. Det drivs i samarbete med vår ugandiska partner Franco. Gruppen består av fem elever; Anna, Filippa, Ebba, Sara och Wilma från gymnasieskolan YBC i Stockholm. Projektet bottnar i det faktum att flickor i Uganda inte har samma tillgång till mensskydd som i Sverige. Detta leder till att de i stor utsträckning stannar hemma under menstruationen eller i värsta fall hoppar av skolan – något vi vill ändra på.

Vårt mål är att kunna hjälpa 200 tjejer med bindor som räcker till 12 månader. Detta då 22 procent av ugandiska flickor hoppar av skolan på grund av menstruationen och 86 procent stannar hemma under menstruationen. Anledningen är att mens inte är lika avdramatiserat som i Sverige utan istället är kopplat till rädsla, tabu och skam.

Klassen har nu kommit hem från resan till Uganda. Det har varit en otrolig upplevelse och resan blir ett minne för livet. I slutet av vår tid i Kabale, Uganda, fick vi äran att träffa medgrundaren Franco.

Tack vare ert stöd fick vi möjligheten att ge över cirka 500 bindor samt en summa pengar som Franco kommer föra vidare till flickorna. Detta kommer möjliggöra och förenkla deras skolgång. Vi är evigt tacksamma för det ni bidragit med och hoppas att du ser skillnaden vi tillsammans gör!

Vi intervjuade Franco om hans livshistoria och hur idén om hans projekt uppkom.

My name is Sempagala Franco but my official name is Kalanzi Johnbosco since 2015. I live in a village called Nakikoota, in the region of Luweero. I was born on 8th October 1986. My family consists of my son called Sean Thomas, my wife, Mayimuna Nakyazze and we live together with 11 children.

What are some of your interests and hobbies?
‍My personal interests are to encourage others to have hope, and to be in general community involvement because all my life I was supported. My hobbies are that I love to listen to music and football. My favorite food is chicken and matooke.

‍What is the plan with your project?
Why I help girls and women in our community is because of the lack of material to manage menstrual hygiene and to change the stigma in the society. The stigma causes girls at school to drop out which leads them into early marriages.

Why do you want to help the girls and what inspired you with the idea?
Two girls inspired me because of their problems they have during their periods. They experience period cramps and they are affected by the stigma. I want to spread information about menstruation and avoid the stigma surrounding it. I was so affected by what Urita told me that she went through. That moment gave me ideas and a plan. I want to achieve the goals of the project and get sustainable support for the future.

Was there a specific moment or incident that motivated you to get involved?
My life has been challenging with many ups and downs. My story is like a miracle to me and I thank God for my life despite the challenges that have come my way. I lived in an orphanage and some white people came and visited. We became friends with them by spending time, eating food and talking together. Rae Perkins was one of the visitors and she decided to help me with school fees and later on her friend Sean Thomas did it too.

Now I am taking care of children from my village by welcoming them into our family. That is why we “have” 11 children altogether and we are living together in the house that Kari and Sean built together with a class in YBC from Stockholm, Sweden. The conclusion is that I am motivated to help because I got support myself and want to give back to others.