Hiking for Generosity: Raising Teenagers-Uganda is a non-profit organization in Uganda creating safe spaces for girls.

Raising Teenagers-Uganda held a Hike for Girls event last week, 10th July 2022, to end menstrual stigma, increase access to sanitary pads, and prevent girls from dropping out of school.

Nankunda is a counsellor and teacher who has spent the last 16 years working with students and their families in schools and in the community. Raising Teenagers-Uganda, the non-profit she founded and directs, and works with to create safe spaces for young people aged 10 to 18, with a particular emphasis on menstrual hygiene management for girls and the provision of guidance and counselling for young people in schools and communities. Her life's work has earned her the moniker "change maker," and she has dedicated herself to advocating for girls' rights to an education and a healthy lifestyle. RTU is also the central Region Coordinator for Girls Not Brides Uganda- Ugandan Partnership to End Child Marriage.

Raising Teenagers-Uganda held a Hike for Girls event last week, 10th July 2022, to end menstrual stigma, increase access to sanitary pads, and prevent girls from dropping out of school. It was in 2017 that Raising Teenagers Uganda began organizing annual hiking events with the goal of breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation for school-age girls and those who are not in school in rural Uganda. Menstruation is an essential and natural part of human life, if not existence. Menstrual hygiene is essential to women's and girls' dignity and well-being, and it is an important component of the basic hygiene, sanitation, and reproductive health services to which every woman and girl has a right. Approximately 52 percent of the female population worldwide is of reproductive age. The majority of these women and girls will menstruate between two and seven days per month. Menstruation, on the other hand, is far too often taboo, with many negative cultural attitudes associated with it, including the notion that menstruating women and girls are 'contaminated,' 'dirty,' and 'impure.'

Girls in rural schools face the greatest stigma and a lack of services and facilities to help them cope with the physical and psychological pains associated with menstruation. Period poverty must be combated, and girls must be supported to return to school, menstruate safely and with dignity, and continue learning alongside boys. Raising Teenagers-Uganda has worked with other non-governmental organizations over the years to eliminate the social stigma associated with menstruation. They read inspirational messages to students at Miru Primary School during the recently concluded hike.

Hope and the rest of her team educate young women about teen pregnancy, sexual health, relationships, and menstrual hygiene during their school visits. They also discuss their rights and marriage alternatives with them. This information is frequently delivered through individual counselling rather than classroom sessions because they believe that building a rapport with the girls one on one ensures that they have a safe space to share their worries and concerns and find solutions. Keeping girls in school is one of Hope's primary goals; many of the sessions are devoted to figuring out how to help the girls stay in school. As a result, Hope believes that girls can take control of their futures if given the opportunity. Through these programs, young women learn about their alternatives to marriage and childbearing and work toward better options.

Members of the Busoga Kyabazinga joined the hikers and pledged to incorporate the message of child safety into their future activities and events.

If you are interested in participating in the Hiking event to raise much more awareness and, most importantly, support for vulnerable girls to stay in school and complete their education, please email hope@raisingteenagers.org.