A dignified period should be part of every girl’s school day

Every month, millions of girls face a challenge that should never stand between them and their education: managing menstruation safely, privately, and with dignity. ALSO READ: Beyond the pad: Breaking barriers to menstrual health and equality In Rwanda, important progress has already been made. Since 2010, Water For People has supported an integrated approach to menstrual health and hygiene in schools, including latrines and dedicated Girls’ Rooms equipped with beds, sanitary pads, soap, water, and support from trained female staff. This model shows that menstrual hygiene management is not a side activity, but an essential part of creating safe, inclusive, and gender-responsive schools. ALSO READ: End period stigma: better menstrual hygiene for rural Rwandan schoolgirls Rwanda’s leadership is especially important because menstrual hygiene management has been institutionalized through the education system. The Girls’ Room, or Icyumba cy’umukobwa, is recognized as part of the school environment needed to support girls’ wellbeing and learning. Through national education policy and related standards, schools are expected to provide a private, safe, and equipped space where girls can manage menstruation, rest when they experience pain or discomfort, and receive support without shame. ALSO READ: Why safe menstrual hygiene remains elusive for women in underserved communities That leadership matters. It recognizes a simple truth: menstruation is not only a health issue. It is an education issue, a gender equality issue, and a human rights issue. When girls lack access to safe facilities, menstrual products, clean water, soap, pain management, and trusted adult support, the consequences can be immediate and long term. Some girls miss class. Others stay physically present but anxious, uncomfortable, or unable to participate fully. Many suffer silently because stigma still surrounds a natural biological process. ALSO READ: Period poverty: Activists on improving access to menstrual hygiene services and products Rwanda’s Girls’ Rooms model offers an important example of what practical, dignity-centered support looks like. A private room with water, soap, sanitary pads, towels, a place to rest, and basic pain relief may sound simple. But for a girl who unexpectedly starts her period at school, it can be the difference between staying in class and going home. It is the difference between embarrassment and confidence. The model also goes beyond infrastructure. Schools assign a trained female staff member, often referred to as Shangazi, or auntie, to oversee the Girls’ Room, help manage supplies, provide reproductive health guidance, and serve as a trusted adult for girls who need support. This role is essential because menstrual health is not only about products or facilities but also about safety, mentorship, confidence, and reducing stigma. Still, infrastructure alone is not enough. Menstrual health must be supported by accurate education, open dialogue, and continued efforts to reduce stigma. Boys and girls need age-appropriate information about puberty and reproductive health. When boys understand menstruation, teasing and shame decrease. When teachers are trained, misinformation can be replaced with facts. When parents and communities are engaged, girls receive stronger support at school and at home. Affordability is also a major challenge. Single-use sanitary pads are still the most commonly used menstrual product, but cost and distribution barriers limit access, especially in rural areas. Recent fiscal measures, including permanent tax relief on feminine hygiene products and price-control efforts, send an important message: menstrual products are essential goods, not luxuries. These measures can help reduce costs for families, but affordability must continue to be matched with reliable availability, quality assurance, and support for local solutions. ALSO READ: Push to scrap taxes on sanitary pads gathers pace Reusable pads produced by local entrepreneurs and social enterprises may offer a more affordable and sustainable option. But for these alternatives to be widely accepted, communities need accurate information, quality assurance, and national standards that build trust. This is where Rwanda has an opportunity to lead again. It demonstrated that menstrual health can be integrated into school systems. The next step is to strengthen the full system around girls: reliable product access, inclusive facilities for girls with disabilities, trained staff, stigma-free education, and safe, affordable, and trusted local solutions. Menstrual health should not depend on a girl’s income, location, or family circumstances. It should be part of every school’s basic responsibility to protect learners’ dignity and enable their participation. A country committed to education for all must also commit to menstrual health for all. When girls can manage menstruation safely and confidently, they stay in school, participate fully, and pursue their futures without shame. Rwanda laid strong foundations. Now is the time to ensure every girl has what she needs to learn with dignity every day. The writer is Country Director, Water For People Rwanda.

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A dignified period should be part of every girl’s school day