Anastacia's Bright Future
Today is International Day of the Girl, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the day than to share with you a story about a remarkable 14-year-old girl named Anastacia.
We first met Anastacia in May of this year at The Cycle distribution. She didn’t have access to menstrual pads, telling us she used pieces of old clothes during her period and didn’t feel comfortable asking her mom for money.
Quickly, we realized that Anastacia’s needs went beyond needing pads for her period. She and her 5 siblings are being raised by a single mother who was struggling to find consistent work to support her children. Unfortunately, as a result, none of the six kids were enrolled in school. When Anastacia had to drop out due to the unaffordable school fees in 2019, she was crushed.
“Every day I see my friends going and coming back from school, and I wish I was among them. But that has just been a dream since 2019.”
Anastacia at the May 2021 distribution event where she received a Huru Kit with everything she needed to manage her period.
Finding a way to get back to school
But Anastacia’s resilient, and she had bigger plans for her life.
She went out and found a school in her neighborhood of Mukuru kwa Reuben that she could enroll in. The school told her that they had space for her, but the registration fee was 750 shillings (about $7 USD) which, unfortunately, she could not afford at the time. So, she decided to take matters into her own hands and she looked for jobs. She started helping businesses dispose of their trash by walking it to the dumping sites. With the little money that she earned, she bought the family food and put some into savings. Eventually, she was able to buy herself a dress for school with the hopes of returning to the classroom someday.
And now, Huru family, we have good news to report… After months of hard work and dedication, Anastacia is finally back in school!!
Anastacia and Huru team member, Velnah, at her new school.
Anastacia wants to become a nurse
After meeting Anastacia in May, one of Huru’s community health workers, Vivian, continued to stay in touch with her and encouraged her to never give up. Ultimately, with Vivian’s encouragement, she saved enough money to enroll in the local school, and she’s back to chasing her dreams of becoming a nurse.
“I was very worried about my education. I could not stand seeing my friends going to school while I was at home working. I was lucky to have joined the Huru sessions and met people with big hearts like Vivian who made sure I went back to school. Thank you Huru for the support of menstrual pads and the education sessions. Your advice of not giving up kept me going. I never lost hope. I am now safe and ready to study in peace, and I am sure I will excel!”
These are the stories we live for. Not only is Anastacia back in school, but she’s equipped with Huru pads to support her for the next 2+ years. Thanks to the generosity of Huru donors, nothing will stop her now.
A very happy Anastacia at her new school.
Reaching girls with The Cycle
You can help girls like Anastacia year-round by giving to Huru each month with The Cycle, Huru’s community of monthly givers made up of members from all around the globe working together to create a world where no girl is limited by her period.
