Written by: Hindaty Traoré
No girl should ever have to choose between managing her period and pursuing her dreams.
In Mali, managing menstruation is one of the quiet challenges that keeps too many girls out of school. For many, the arrival of their period brings fear, confusion, and shame. This is not just because of the physical changes in their bodies, but also because they often lack the basic information and resources to understand and manage it.
Across rural communities, conversations about menstruation are rare. Cultural taboos and silence around the topic leave girls unprepared when their first period arrives. Many do not know what is happening to their bodies or how to care for themselves safely and with dignity. Even when families want to help, poverty often means they cannot afford sanitary supplies, forcing girls to rely on makeshift solutions like scraps of cloth or old fabric wraps that leak easily.
Without adequate supplies or understanding, the impact on education is severe. Girls frequently miss three to five days of school every month during their periods. Over the course of a year, that is nearly a month of lost instruction. For girls already fighting to stay in school, these absences lead to lower grades, falling behind their classmates, and in some cases, dropping out altogether. Research shows that menstrual-related absences are a significant factor behind the gender gap in school enrollment and completion across much of sub-Saharan Africa.
The cost is not just academic; it is emotional, too. Shame and isolation become part of their routine. Many girls describe feeling anxious, unclean, or embarrassed, retreating from friends and avoiding school for fear of being teased or humiliated if they leak in public.
But change is starting to take root.
This year, Mali Rising distributed more than 600 hygiene kits across 10 partner villages, alongside awareness-raising sessions designed to help girls understand their bodies and the menstrual cycle. These sessions not only provide practical information, but also create a safe space where girls can ask questions, share experiences, and break the silence around menstruation. Teachers and mothers have also been engaged, helping to build a more supportive environment both at school and at home. And the difference is already obvious! Attendance rates are rising, girls are participating more confidently in class, and the fear and shame that once kept them at home are beginning to fade.
One of those students is Chatou Samaké, a 9th-grader at Denik School in Zambougou.
“I had my first period two years ago when I was 14,” Chatou shares. “I was coming back from the market and I didn’t know what was happening. I was scared to talk to my mother because we just don’t have those kinds of conversations. I was full of questions, but no answers. With the Girls Project sessions, I learned so much, like why the bleeding happens. Before, I even thought I might be sick!” she laughs.
For girls like Chatou, the hygiene kits have been life-changing. Traditionally, many girls in rural villages rely on scraps of old cloth, known locally as “wax,” as makeshift pads. But these materials don’t absorb well and often lead to stained clothes, which creates constant worry and embarrassment. The fear of leaking or being humiliated keeps many girls at home, isolating themselves for days each month.
“Before, when I had my period, I’d isolate myself both at school and at home,” Chatou explains. “I was so scared that the cloth might fall out or shift, or that my clothes would get stained. I’d miss three or four days of school each month and borrow my friends’ notebooks to catch up. But now, thanks to the hygiene kit from Mali Rising, I can attend class comfortably, even during my period.”
Chatou also has an important message for other girls. “I encourage all of us to pass on what we’ve learned to our sisters, especially those who didn’t get to attend the Girls Project sessions. And I hope the Girls Project returns every year so that new girls entering secondary school can feel as confident and supported as we do now.”
The impact has been remarkable. In our partner schools, attendance among girls during their periods has soared. No longer held back by fear of teasing or embarrassment, they feel confident coming to class. With improved privacy, better materials, and a growing sense of solidarity, these girls are not just staying in school, they are flourishing!
