The Red Dot Initiative Period kits Distribution

My name is Tariqa Ismail and The founder of a community project called The Red Dot Initiative in Mombasa County.

My journey started with helping a few pubescent girls in my locality, old town in Mvita constituency, who lacked access to proper sanitary pads. The issue came to light due to frequent sewerage blockages and floods in the area which led to the discovery of so many pieces of clothes flushed down the toilet which we later found out that they were being used as sanitary napkins. 
For me this was a perfect opportunity to become an agent of change and a voice of reason for the girls in my community and locality. Hence, the red dot initiative came to life and with the help of a few friends, family and well wishers we have managed to help girls not only in Mombasa county but as far as Kilifi county. 

I have gotten the opportunity of collaborating with NGOs and likeminded individuals, and this has been an amazing experience.

The Red Dot Initiative typically distributes sanitary pads and period kits to pubescent girls and does a follow up to ensure girls in the program are continuously receiving period products. We have so far helped 323 pubescent girls and we are striving and aiming to help more girls in the near future. 
Our Period Kits contain 3sanitary pads, 2 panties, a toothpaste and toothbrush, washing powder and a bath soap. Each kit can last a girl for at least 2 months, enabling the girls to attend school without missing classes during their periods and also ensure the girls do not trade their bodies for money to buy pads avoiding contraction of STDs, STIs and also avoiding unwanted teenage pregnancies. 
Our main distribution points in Mombasa include Old town, Kisauni, and Likoni. In Kilifi county we distribute at Sarafina Childrens home and rescue centre in Mtwapa, the Malindi cerebral palsy centre, and in villages like Sosobora, Makobeni, Jilore and Dabasso (in watamu). We recently added pubescent girls from Tsimba secondary school in Kwale county into our program. 
We look forward to becoming more impactful  and also be able to touch more lives in the fight against period poverty and  unhygienic menstruation practices. Apart from distribution, we ensure that we talk to the girls about Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management. We hope to make a difference and bring about positive change in our society at large and hopefully get rid of period stigmas and myths in our society by encouraging girls to practice hygiene during and after their menses and also ensure girls make the right decisions about their future by encouraging them to put more effort in their education. 
At The Red Dot Initiative, we believe that women are the drivers of the society. They are the main pillar in the development of our Nation, therefore, when we start training them as young pubescent girls they grow up to become brilliant and unstoppable forces that drive our Nation ahead.