When LifeStraw launched SafiCycle, our menstrual health program utilizing reusable period panties, it represented a turning point in the way menstrual health programs are conducted. For years, the financial burden and stigma surrounding menstruation had silently derailed the education and stolen the confidence of girls across western Kenya. In this essay, a young woman shares her story of overcoming poverty, societal barriers, and personal tragedy to pursue her dream and refocus on what mattered most: her future.
This essay has been edited to protect the contributor's privacy by removing identifying details. The core narrative and insights remain authentic and unaltered. Any edits made by LifeStraw are represented in [brackets].
My name is [Sarah], a girl aged 20 years. [I] was born in [a village in western Kenya to my parents]. [I] started my education journey in the year 2012.
My home background consists of my dad who is a single parent, [and] my grandmother whom I used to stay with since my young age. [I] was brought up by my grandmother because my dad was still a student, therefore he could not manage to take care of me and at the same time attend school.
As I continued with my education journey, I started receiving my menses while in standard six. I was shy to speak [up] because I thought that it was too early for me to start receiving my menses. Lack of sanitary towels lowered my self-esteem then it led me to start using pieces of mattresses because I lacked pads. I used them until Standard eight where female teachers started giving out free sanitary towels to girls.
I managed to sit for my KCPE and got marks 258. That was not the marks that I expected but what could I do, [I] was supposed to accept it the way it had come.
I was called to many schools but my parent managed to admit me at [a good private secondary school.]
My adolescence stage started during Corona Pandemic when my hormones started functioning normally. At this time, I started having feelings for boys, like I was just feeling like meeting one conjugally.
So one day I met a boda boda rider who admired me not because I was a big girl but because my body itself deserved it. I accepted the friend request of the boda boda [rider] because, I had no money for buying pads and I felt like since I am a girl, I would need some extra money to buy whatever I want.
Since the boda boda [rider] used to give me money, one day he invited me at his place and because my brain was still pre-mature, I went to his home. The guy took advantage of me and therefore he impregnated me and lack of money was a contributing factor to my acceptance.
As I joined high school, I didn't know that I was pregnant but as time went by I came to realize because I missed my menses. That was a very difficult time for me because when my parents realized, their hate to me increased again. They did not want to see any part of me in their house.
Again, there was a case whereby the boda boda guy who impregnated me was arrested because I was still schooling and underage. The guy was imprisoned for a period of one month whereby his parents managed to get out some money and get him out of the remand. The arrest tortured me psychologically whereby I was thinking of who will help me during that difficult time yet my parents didn't want to see me nor help me.
After nine months I safely delivered a baby boy but because my parents had told me before that when I deliver, I will not stay with my baby, neither breastfeeding him nor just giving him maternal care. But when I did so, nurses told me that the baby must be breastfed because he was born a bit underweight. I had no option but to stay with my maternal mother who is far away from me until the baby turned 6 months then I had to bring him to his home so that I may pursue with my education, and again, because my parents had warned me before that they don't want to see any part of my baby at my home.
That was a tough moment but life should move on. So I must study so that I can help him in future when he wants to go to school. After all I went through, I returned to school to finish my high school education. I encountered rejection from my fellow students especially girls who talked behind me but I didn't give up, I focused and continued with life.
In the year 2023, the period panties company brought some panties to girls. As girls we felt good because the cost of buying sanitary towels every month has now reduced. The panties are more flexible, very comfortable after use, you just wash, sun dry then still use them. The panties made me focus highly that I could not miss class because of lack of pads.
I studied until 2025 when I sat for my KCSE exam and managed to come out with a mean grade of C-. I did my exams under [a] sorrowful moment because towards my final exams, my grandma left me because of sickness of a short period. She just started complaining about headache and in the same year, same month, she passed on. May her soul continue resting in peace. Her demise left me in tears because I used to stay with her all the days of my life, now whom will I remain with, that love, care, attention and all that has now gone to rest. Rest easy, grandma.
Now that I'm done with my high school education, I would like to pursue my dreams, one of it being a teacher or a nurse. Meanwhile, studying computer and driving gives me sleepless nights. I would like to study but lack of financial support is hindering me from doing so. Among my hobbies include listening to music, dancing and travelling.
Again, now financial support is hindering me from taking my results slip in school. I owe the school KSH 16,250.
Staying alone in the house is really boring because of the demise of my grandma whom I used to stay with since I was born. Travelling out of Kakamega to various places such as Nairobi, Mombasa etc. is my wish. Thank you.
To support Sarah’s continued education and development, LifeStraw has paid the fees mentioned above.
