Pads or Pregnancy? What Kilifi’s Girls Are Up Against

When Sally and Omar set out to speak to young women in our community, they weren’t just checking a box. They were listening — and what they heard was heartbreaking.

For many girls in Kilifi, the monthly period doesn’t just mean discomfort — it means risk. Risk of missing school. Risk of isolation. And sometimes, tragically, risk of exploitation.

“This one — her name is Mitchell,” Sally shared. “She’s a victim. She lacked sanitary towels and opted for another alternative. Now she’s a mother of a young baby.”

Mitchell’s Story: One of many young women in Kilifi impacted by period poverty — her story reminds us why community-led conservation must include care, dignity, and access.

Mitchell’s story isn’t rare. It’s reality for far too many girls who, when unable to afford sanitary towels, are forced to make unimaginable choices — including exchanging their bodies for a few coins.

Brave Voices: A few of the young women who attended our first menstrual health outreach — proving that saving our seas starts with strong, supported communities.

The Impact of a Silent Struggle

The girls told us how they often use rags or scraps of cloth in place of sanitary pads. But it’s far from a solution. Leaving the house becomes a source of shame. Attending school feels impossible. Some stay indoors for days.

“This one was a tough one,” Omar said. “You could feel the weight in the room.”

But there was light, too.

Speaking Up: One brave young woman who came forward to share her story, breaking the silence around periods and helping us build stronger, more resilient coastal communities.

Thanks to small personal donations, Sally and Omar were able to provide sanitary kits for 50 girls during their first outreach — and the response was overwhelming. Over 40 teenage girls showed up, along with a few younger children and even some boys.

All Are Welcome: Our first menstrual health session drew both girls and boys — because saving our seas means supporting informed, inclusive communities.

“Don’t mind about the little children and the boys,” Sally said. “I told them it’s a free discussion. They can still join us.”

The goal wasn’t just to give — it was to talk. To open the space. To let girls speak freely and to begin shifting the silence around periods.

Why This Matters

Access to menstrual health products is not a luxury — it’s a basic need. One that directly affects education, safety, and the dignity of our young women.

This project reminded us that while we talk about up-cycling, marine debris, gardens, and livelihoods — the real root of it all is human dignity. It’s these stories that ground our work.

The girls were really very happy.And as Sally said:

“Thank you too, for putting a smile on their faces.”

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Want to help us reach more girls next month? A donation of just a few hundred shillings provides a young woman with dignity, confidence — and the chance to stay in school.