PHOTOS: Actress Bazongere completes 160km walk in menstrual health campaign

Rosine Bazongere completed her 160-kilometre walk challenge for menstrual health awareness, on Sunday, February 15, closing the journey with emotion, gratitude, and a renewed call to support vulnerable girls. Bazongere, who trekked from Kigali to Nyagatare, was greeted by a jubilant crowd at her finishing point. Upon arrival, the actress, her son and other supporters we welcomed by cheerful locals, including traditional drummers and a large group of motorcycle taxi drivers sounded their horns in unison. ALSO READ: Period poverty: Should sanitary pads be made free? Speaking after finishing the challenge, Bazongere, founder of the Her Dignity campaign said her body was exhausted but her heart was “full of love and happiness.” “I’m very happy. My heart is thankful, strong and smiling. It’s like, ‘Hey girl, we did it,’” she told The New Times. She described the four-day walk as tough, revealing that at one point in Nyagasambu, Rwamagana she nearly stopped due to exhaustion. “My strength finished somewhere in Nyagasambu. That’s where I could have turned back and gone to sleep. But we had to continue. I kept praying on the road, every day before starting, I prayed, saying ‘God, let’s do this.’ And we did,” she said. ALSO READ: Period poverty: Why rural women need urgent attention Bazongere insisted the achievement was beyond her personal strength. “I’m not saying I did it as Rosine. That was beyond me, it was God. The pain was real, the body was weak, but the mission was stronger,” she added. The walk marked both the completion of her awareness campaign and her 31st birthday, a symbolic milestone she chose to dedicate to girls who miss school due to lack of menstrual hygiene products. Through Her Dignity campaign, Bazongere aims to provide at least 2,000 girls with reusable menstrual kits and reproductive health education. Each kit costs about Rwf6,000 and can last up to two years. Despite the physical toll, Bazongere said the overwhelming support from people who walked with her, cheered her on, donated, or shared her message, kept her moving. She told The New Times that by Sunday evening she and her team had raised Rwf300,000-400,000, as the campaign continues. “This was tough, but we did it together. I’m thankful for everyone who stood with me over the four days. This journey may have ended, but the mission continues,” she said. Bazongere noted that the campaign is not only about sanitary pads but also about restoring dignity, confidence, and equal opportunity for girls to stay in school.

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PHOTOS: Actress Bazongere completes 160km walk in menstrual health campaign