Refugee Girls Miss 43% of School Days Due to Lack of Sanitary Products
Kakuma, 12 February 2026
Peace Winds America competes for over £24,000 in funding to tackle period poverty in refugee camps across Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan. Nearly half of teenage girls in one Ugandan camp skip school during menstruation due to inadequate sanitary supplies and facilities, fuelling alarmingly high dropout rates among already vulnerable populations. The organisation’s comprehensive approach combines pad distribution with washroom construction and health education to combat stigma. With foreign aid cuts eliminating menstrual health programmes first, public votes until 18th February could secure crucial funding for six affected refugee communities.
The Scale of Period Poverty in Refugee Settings
The statistics paint a stark picture of menstrual health challenges facing displaced populations. In one Ugandan refugee camp where Peace Winds operates, 43% of teenage girls report staying away from school during their periods to avoid teasing and accidents [1]. This educational disruption compounds the already significant barriers refugee girls face in accessing quality education. The organisation’s work spans multiple countries, with comprehensive programming supporting refugee girls and women experiencing ‘period poverty’ in Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda [1]. The impact extends beyond individual educational outcomes, contributing to distressingly high dropout rates among refugee girls who already face multiple disadvantages in their daily lives [1].
How the Funding Competition Works
Peace Winds America is participating in the 2026 Project for Awesome video contest, competing for a grant exceeding $30,000 [1][2]. The organisation requires public votes to secure this funding, with a clear four-step voting process established for supporters. Voters must visit projectforawesome.com or access the link through Peace Winds’ social media profiles, then search for Peace Winds America within the platform [2]. The process involves entering an email address to receive a ‘magic’ sign-in link with no password requirement, followed by clicking the red ‘Vote for charity’ button to cast their vote [2]. The voting deadline is Wednesday, 18th February 2026, making public participation time-sensitive for this funding opportunity [1][2].
Comprehensive Approach Beyond Basic Supplies
Peace Winds’ methodology extends far beyond simple pad distribution, recognising that merely handing out sanitary products proves insufficient to address the complex challenges surrounding menstrual health in refugee communities [2]. The organisation implements a comprehensive support system that combines pad distribution with health education programmes designed to combat stigma and teach healthy practices to both girls and boys [1]. Infrastructure development forms a crucial component, with the construction of public washrooms enabling girls and women to change safely and privately at work and school [2]. The programme also focuses on making sanitary products accessible and affordable through local markets rather than relying solely on charitable distribution, creating sustainable access pathways [2].
Impact of Foreign Aid Cuts on Menstrual Health
Recent foreign aid reductions have disproportionately affected menstrual health programming, with these initiatives often eliminated first when budgets face constraints [1]. This funding crisis has made Peace Winds’ competition for additional resources even more critical, as the organisation seeks to expand programming in six refugee camps that have been particularly hard hit by recent aid cuts [1]. The successful securing of this grant funding would enable Peace Winds to reach more women and girls in need during a period when traditional funding sources have become increasingly scarce [1]. The organisation emphasises that too often, the specific needs of girls and women are overlooked in humanitarian programming, making targeted support for menstrual health initiatives essential for addressing gender-specific challenges in refugee communities [1].