One Packet Initiative - Coming together for the Baringo girls

Since the announcement of the first covid-19 case in Kenya, subsequent containment measures included forcing schools to shut down and therefore sending children to the villages for an uncertain period of time.

In recent news, cases of teenage pregnancies have already risen to shocking numbers with counties such as Nairobi having reported over 11,000 cases of teenage pregnancies in a span of three months. Recently, Baringo County was in the news headlines for all the wrong reasons where it is reported that young girls are exchange sexual favors just for pads which is a heartbreaking reality.

This should not be happening in Kenya.

It is for this reason that, One Packet Initiative, a group started on March 2019 by a group of four ladies with the aim to help eradicate period poverty and stigma among needy women, has decided to come to these girls' rescue from the hands of predator and sexually indisciplined men of Baringo County.

Having debuted on 31st May 2019, One Packet has grown to a membership of over 200 people. They  saw the need to address issues on period poverty and what seemed fit at the moment was to supply and distribute sanitary towels, toiletries, panties and clothes to street women and girls besides providing assistance other vulnerable members of the society.

The  objective is to get willing friends to support by giving atleast a packet of sanitary towels hence "One Packet Initiative".

By this One Packet Initiative is able to help girls stay in school during their menses and allow women to engage in their daily economic activities without any hindrances. Good hygienic products for them to use instead of them using "matambaras" and other unhealthy improvisations.

The name One Packet came from the idea that they don't  have much to give but would try their best to give atleast one packet of sanitary towels.

This year, the team had planned on embarking on a series of events but were interrupted by the announcement of the Covid-19 pandemic in Kenya in March. With the measures put in place by the Ministry of Health and in adherence to the same, the team has decided to go on with this year's program albeit with caution.

Since the ease of government restrictions, the team has been able to undertake small scale projects like feeding a few families. Irregardless, period poverty still continues to paralyze the country.

Besides educating the society on the need for consensual and legal sexual practices, we would like to eliminate sex for pads as one of the causes.

To help One Packet Initiative in their endeavours, they have a working paybill number where you can support with whatever amount. The number is:

PAYBILL : 891300
ACCOUNT : Packet

On Instagram they can be reached on @one_packetinitiative (https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=hk3jk7vpwzem&utm_content=6d9u407)

Kindly Check out previous projects and receipts from mchanga https://changa.page.link/oZsK

You can also install their app for more photos and videos.

ONE PACKET INITIATIVE at a past event (PICTORIALS)