Huru's Response to COVID-19
At the onset of the pandemic, Huru was forced to make quick decisions to adjust our strategy and ensure the safety of our teams in both New York and Nairobi, Kenya.
So by the end of March, our New York team began working fully remote and remain doing so today. But in Nairobi, where our production facility and Africa-based headquarters are located, the team has been busier than ever…providing pads, underwear, health education, and even face masks to people in need across the country.
Re-thinking our distribution methods…
Ordinarily, Huru reaches girls by organizing community- and school-based distributions. And although COVID-19 restrictions prohibited us from gathering groups together, that didn’t stop our team. Huru’s staff continued providing girls with Huru Kits by going door-to-door to each of their homes within Nairobi and utilizing cargo partners to help reach girls who are outside of Nairobi. Our team has told us that going to girls’ homes has been “an extraordinary experience” because it gives them the opportunity to interact with their parents/guardians and siblings.
Pivoting production lines…
When the reality of limited PPE set in and face coverings were flying off the shelves, neighboring businesses and community members began knocking on Huru’s door with the same question: “Can you please start making face masks?”
So we began the process of shifting some of our production lines in order to create face masks that are high-quality and comfortable (just like our pads!). The support that we received from businesses and donors was unimaginable and allowed us to manufacture and distribute over 90,000 face masks to people throughout Kenya.
Launching Free2…
As part of a grant-funded project, Huru spent much of 2019 and early 2020 developing a government-approved menstrual health learning app called Free2. The app condenses Huru’s curriculum into 28 game- and quiz-filled lessons to keep girls (and boys!) engaged and learning. Free2’s launch was a timely solution to the COVID-19 issue of restricted movement.
By utilizing Free2, Huru was able to continue educating girls on life skills, puberty, menstruation, and more without having to gather in crowds. More than 50,000 girls, boys, parents, and teachers are registered and learning on Free2. One girl even told us that she used the app to educate her brother who had previously made fun of her for having a period.
Without the support of major corporate donors like Micato Safaris and L., and without the generosity of all of the Huru supporters who shared our story with friends and continued to donate throughout this year, none of this would have been possible.
We’re grateful that amidst a confusing, uncertain, and challenging year, Huru has had the opportunity to grow, evolve, and adapt to meet the needs of girls and their families in East Africa. And that is all thanks to you.
-your friends at Huru
