Menstrual Hygiene Day Awareness Campaign Report – TRAID Uganda 2026
In line with International Menstrual Hygiene Day and the 2026 global theme, “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” Trauma Rescue Aid (TRAID) carried out a two-day Menstrual Hygiene Day campaign for refugee teenage girls in Uganda.
The campaign focused on menstrual hygiene awareness and the distribution of sanitary pads to 119 refugee girls, combining education with practical support.
Who the campaign reached
Most of the girls who took part are not just refugees. Many are survivors of violence from Sudan. Some lost their parents during conflict. Others are now living with families that are not their own.
It is a quiet kind of reality, the kind that does not always show on the surface, but it shapes everything. How a girl feels, how safe she is, how she understands her body, and how she moves through each day.
This is why menstrual health support in this context is not only about hygiene. It is also about safety, dignity, and emotional care.
Why this campaign matters
For many of these girls, menstruation comes with silence and stigma. In some cases, it also means missing school, hiding, or managing periods without proper materials.
Displacement has made this harder. Basic things like sanitary pads and safe private spaces are not always available.
Campaign activities and engagement
Across the two days, girls participated in open menstrual hygiene awareness sessions. The discussions were simple, but important.
They covered:
- Understanding menstrual health in clear, basic terms
- Breaking stigma and shame around periods
- Challenges girls face in refugee and displacement settings
- Safe hygiene practices during menstruation
The sessions were not just lectures. Girls spoke openly about their experiences, sometimes for the first time.
Some of the conversations were heavy, especially when girls shared experiences of losing parents, living through conflict, and trying to rebuild life in unfamiliar environments.
Key issues raised by girls
During the sessions, some difficult realities came up:
In many Sudanese families, menstrual health is not openly discussed within the home. Several girls shared that menstruation is often treated as a shameful topic, which leaves young girls without proper guidance or support.
We also learned that some families still continue to practice female genital mutilation (FGM), despite it being prohibited by law in Sudan.
These are serious concerns that need urgent attention to protect young girls from harmful practices and ensure their rights are being protected.
These are not easy topics, but they matter. Because silence often leaves girls unprotected.
Distribution of sanitary pads
A total of 119 refugee teenage girls received sanitary pads to help them manage their periods with dignity and confidence..
For many of them, this support means something very practical. Less fear about their next period. More comfort. More ability to go to school and move freely.
Support from donors and partners
TRAID extends sincere gratitude to everyone supporting this work through the GoFundMe campaign.
Your support has made it possible to:
- Reach displaced girls with menstrual health education
- Provide sanitary pads to those who need them most
- Create safe spaces for open discussion
Every contribution has gone into something very real, helping girls who are carrying more than most people see.
Closing reflection
At its core, this campaign is not only about menstrual hygiene.
It is about girls who have already been through too much, still trying to grow, still trying to study, still trying to be children in a life that has forced them to become resilient too early.
Menstrual health support becomes one small way of saying, you still deserve dignity, you still deserve care, you still deserve a future that feels normal.
Trauma Rescue Aid remains committed to supporting refugee girls through menstrual health education, protection, and dignity-focused care.
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