Wings For Dignity

Changemaker: Isbella Awat Apire Lomu

Country of implementation: Kenya

Kakuma Refugee Camp is home to over 250,000 refugees from South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, DRC, Burundi and Rwanda. This population is supported by the United Nation High Commission for Refugees, World Food Program, Lutheran World Federation, International Rescue Committee among other organizations for their basic needs. Little attention is given to Sexual and Reproduction Health and Rights, and Menstrual Health and hygiene.

Three young refugee women saw the struggle women go through to acquire sanitary towels especially school going girls since the distribution of sanitary pads and soaps were stopped some years back. Others opt for marriages hence dropping out of school, others opt for makeshift materials like ragged clothes, newspapers or sitting on the sand for blood to soak in hence leading to infections, causing even a bigger problem. Others engage in sexual relationships in exchange for sanitary pads, some of the relationships lead to unwanted pregnancies hence dropping out of school.

Wings For Dignity came into being to support and keep the girls in school and empower dropouts and young women who were enabled to further their studies. This project has so far supported 300 refugee girls in Kakuma and Kalobeyei Settlement, through distribution of sanitary pads, soaps and mentorship sessions. On Women's Day 2025, Wings For Dignity had an interactive session with The Klabu's yoga class beneficiaries, under the 2025 theme 'Accelerate action for gender equality'.