Menstrual health is fundamental to the health, dignity, wellbeing, and empowerment of girls and young women. Yet, many continue to face barriers related to access to menstrual hygiene products, accurate information, and supportive environments, affecting their ability to participate fully in education, sports, leadership, and community life. In commemoration of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2026, Global Impact Transformation (GIT), in partnership with the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), Tanzania Women Football Association (TWFA), and the Tanzania Conflict Resolution Centre (TCRC), organized a community outreach initiative aimed at promoting menstrual health awareness, strengthening menstrual dignity, and expanding access to essential menstrual hygiene products among adolescent girls and young women in Dar es Salaam. The initiative brought together students from Jangwani Secondary School and women footballers from Masala Princess, Sayari Queens, and Kinondoni Women's Football Teams, creating an inclusive platform for learning, dialogue, and empowerment. Through this engagement, the partners reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensuring that menstruation does not become a barrier to education, sports participation, leadership, or opportunity.
Creating safe spaces for learning and dialogu
By Communication team
More than 160 participants, including adolescent girls, young women athletes, coaches, guardians, and community representatives, took part in the commemoration. By bringing together participants from both educational and sporting environments, the initiative highlighted the importance of addressing menstrual health challenges across the spaces where girls and young women learn, compete, grow, and lead. The event featured interactive awareness sessions focused on menstrual hygiene management, reproductive health awareness, personal wellbeing, and the importance of accessing reliable information. Participants engaged in open discussions that challenged myths and misconceptions surrounding menstruation while promoting confidence, self-care, and informed decision-making.
The sessions also emphasized the collective responsibility of schools, families, sports institutions, and communities in creating supportive environments where girls and young women can participate fully and confidently without fear of stigma or discrimination. Recognizing that access to menstrual hygiene products remains a challenge for many girls and young women, the initiative included the distribution of sanitary pads to participating students and women footballers.The support was designed to help address practical barriers that can affect school attendance, participation in sports, concentration, confidence, and overall wellbeing. By combining awareness and education with tangible support, the initiative reinforced the importance of ensuring that girls and young women can manage menstruation safely, confidently, and with dignity.
Leveraging Sport as a Platform for Empowerment
Sport continues to serve as a powerful platform for promoting leadership, confidence, teamwork, and inclusion among girls and young women. Through the participation of women football teams, the commemoration highlighted the important link between menstrual health and women's participation in sport. By engaging female athletes in conversations around menstrual health and wellbeing, the initiative contributed to creating more supportive and inclusive sporting environments while promoting awareness of the unique challenges that women and girls may face both on and off the field.
The engagement also reflects GIT's broader commitment to empowering girls and young women through sports, leadership development, safeguarding, and wellbeing initiatives that strengthen their ability to participate fully and realize their potential. Participants demonstrated increased understanding of menstrual hygiene management, safe hygiene practices, and menstrual health awareness. The interactive nature of the sessions encouraged open conversations and provided opportunities for participants to ask questions, share experiences, and learn from one another.
Many participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to discuss menstrual health openly and emphasized the importance of continuing such initiatives within schools, sports clubs, and communities. The combination of education and practical support helped strengthen confidence, improve awareness, and encourage positive attitudes toward menstrual health.
Voice of Impact
Reflecting on the importance of the initiative, Swaumu Getani, a football player from Sayari Queens, shared:
“On behalf of my fellow teammates, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the support provided through this Menstrual Hygiene Day initiative. Access to sanitary products can sometimes be a challenge for many girls and young women, and receiving these sanitary pads has given us greater comfort, confidence, and peace of mind. This support will help us continue participating fully in sports and other daily activities during menstruation without interruption. We are grateful for this investment in our health, dignity, and wellbeing.”
Similarly, Mariam Saidi, a student from Jangwani Secondary School, highlighted the value of menstrual health education:
“Today's session taught me the importance of menstrual hygiene and how to take care of myself during my menstrual cycle. Before this awareness session, I had many questions and misconceptions, but now I feel more informed and confident. I am especially grateful for the sanitary pads that were provided because they will help me attend school comfortably and focus on my studies without worry. I have also learned that menstruation is a natural part of life and should never make girls feel ashamed.”
These experiences demonstrate how access to information, supportive environments, and essential menstrual hygiene products can strengthen confidence, promote wellbeing, and enable girls and young women to participate more fully in education, sport, and community life.
The success of the Menstrual Hygiene Day 2026 commemoration reflects the power of collaboration in advancing health, gender equality, and inclusion.Through partnerships with schools, sports institutions, civil society organizations, and community stakeholders, Global Impact Transformation continues to expand opportunities for girls and young women to access knowledge, support services, mentorship, and resources that contribute to their wellbeing and development. Such partnerships are essential in addressing barriers that affect girls' participation and ensuring that every girl and young woman has the opportunity to thrive.
Looking Ahead
Building on the momentum of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2026, Global Impact Transformation remains committed to strengthening menstrual health programming through school outreach, community engagement, sports-based initiatives, and strategic partnerships. The organization will continue expanding access to menstrual health information, menstrual hygiene products, and supportive services while promoting safe, inclusive, and enabling environments where girls and young women can learn, lead, and thrive.
As part of its broader commitment to youth and women's empowerment, GIT will continue leveraging sport as a platform for advancing health, confidence, leadership, safeguarding, and equal opportunities for girls and young women across Tanzania. Achieving this vision requires collective action. GIT welcomes collaboration with development partners, foundations, corporate organizations, educational institutions, sports associations, civil society organizations, and individual supporters who share a commitment to advancing menstrual health, gender equality, girls' education, and women's empowerment. Together, we can expand access to life-changing information, essential menstrual hygiene products, and opportunities that enable girls and young women to participate fully in education, sport, leadership, and community life.
We invite partners, supporters, and champions of girls' and women's empowerment to join us in creating lasting impact and ensuring that no girl is left behind because of menstruation.
For partnership, sponsorship, or collaboration opportunities, please contact: info@globalimpacttransformation.org
Together, we can build a future where every girl and young woman has the knowledge, support, and opportunities needed to participate fully, pursue her aspirations, and realize her full potential.
