Good Neighbours UK sincerely thanks YorKits for their partnership and donation of reusable menstrual hygiene kits, which are helping to improve menstrual health for girls in Niger.
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Globally, 500 million women and girls lack the resources for safe and private menstrual management. In Niger, period poverty is intensified by limited access to hygiene facilities (only 18% of the population has access to basic sanitation (UNICEF)) and by the lack of affordable menstrual products and reliable information.
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Many girls still rely on old cloths or other improvised materials that are unhygienic and uncomfortable, often leading to infections, stigma, and absenteeism from school. Studies across West Africa, including Niger, show that around 15% of school-aged girls miss classes due to menstruation – equivalent to almost a fifth of the academic year.
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To help break this cycle of exclusion, Good Neighbours UK (GNUK) partnered with Good Neighbours Niger and local community organisations to introduce YorKits: reusable, environmentally friendly menstrual hygiene kits designed for school-aged girls. In October, during the week of International Day of the Girl Child (11 October), 23 girls in Beri Koira village, Hamdallaye, received Yorkits alongside practical training on menstrual health and hygiene.
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The session was led by a local focal point on sexual and reproductive health, with support from the Kollo health department, which nominated two volunteer mothers to act as ongoing mentors and trusted contacts for the girls.
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Beyond meeting immediate needs, Yorkits served as a meaningful entry point for community-led collaboration on girls’ health and education. GNUK’s local partners also engaged a women’s sewing cooperative, providing them with a Yorkits sample and templates pack to begin learning local production. Another kit was shared with the Niger Baobab Rotary Club to strengthen local advocacy and awareness efforts.
We are deeply grateful to YorKits and their volunteers for their generosity and shared commitment to equality and empowerment.
Marc Greene (Chief Executive
Canopi Foundation & Education Saves Lives) with Zarina Douglas-Sori, Chief Executive, Good Neighbours UK
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