 Very good morning to you. Thank you so much for sticking with us right here on Why in the Morning. It is a pleasure being with you this fine Wednesday morning. This is Why in the Morning. Of course, you're just in time for the next conversation of the day. This is the strength of a woman. Let's talk about what women are doing, what ladies are doing to break that glass ceiling and stand out as ladies. In this discussion today, I am with Mary Mumo. She is from Build Her Confidence Initiative. Thank you so much. How are you feeling? I'm fine, thank you. You're good? Yes. Thanks so much for finding time to join us. First things first, what is Build Her Confidence Initiative all about? Well, Build Her Confidence Initiative is NGO, rather CBO, registered in Kibra here in Nairobi. We advocate for section of reproductive health and rights. Our major focus is on mental health and of course, girl child with menstrual hygiene management. So you talk about mental health and the girl child and so far, how is your outreach? We've managed to even handle cases outside Nairobi, that's in Machakos County, in Makwini County. So we've managed to reach about 2,000 girls. So your focus is in Nairobi and Machakos? Our main focus actually should be in Nairobi, but we usually go where we see the need. Okay, where you see the need? Yes. And how do you establish that? We have people on the ground who will come up and tell us that in Machakos, we have one of our partners who is there. She came and told us of a girl who was using cartons for the lack of sanitary towels. So that's how we established the need in Machakos. We visited them and of course, we did what we usually do, that's donating the sanitary towels to them and of course, giving them the menstrual hygiene education. What made you come up with this kind of initiative? When did it start? What is the concept behind it? Well, growing up I could see people lack sanitary towels and that would hit me big time. So I think it's out of passion. Passion? Yes. Growing up seeing a weakness in the society? Yes, especially when I was in high school. It was quite traumatic. How bad was it? What was that touching moment that made you say, you know what, something needs to be done? Well, going back to my personal story, I started menstruating when I was in Form 2 and my parent used to get me sanitary towels since, even while I was joining Form 1. So you can imagine that I had all the sanitary towels that I was carrying from home, that's from Form 1 or the way to Form 2. So while having them in my box, I could see ladies come and ask for a piece. And so I had a conversation with some of them, whereby they were telling me that they were unable to get them. They could not afford it? Yes, they could not afford the sanitary towels. And imagine by that time it was only going for 50 Bob, which we still have them going for that amount even today, but we still have people unable to get them. But of course the price comes in different variations depending on what you're using. Even the cheapest one is not affordable. It's not. And that's the conversation we need to change on the ground. Because now we are seeing Kenyans were struggling. Right now we have high cost of living. And if we are complaining about high cost of living, what about something that is as basic as sanitary? Now it's good that you mentioned that it's basic. Do you know that there are people who don't know that sanitary towels are basic? Wow. Yes, we do. Okay. Actually I think it's like a luxury or something. Some people think that it's a luxury, but it's not. Actually sanitary towels are a basic need for every girl. Do you think Kenyans understand that? Do you think every parent, every Kenyan parent understands that concept? Well, a few do. A few do. And of course you'll even find that the others whom we assume that they probably don't do, they do only that they are unable to afford them or rather to access them. I'm looking at this initiative that you're doing. Who are those that you're working with or partnering with that are like the pillars that are holding it up? Well, I have a team of ten members, four of them are my childhood friends whom we grew together. And we also teamed up with the other six from here in Nairobi who had the same passion as I had. So we are of ten members. At now we usually talk to our friends on the same on supporting the initiative. So that's where we circulate around. So you're saying that their childhood friends, you shared this idea with them? Yes. They bought it? Yes. And they came in big time. Same sex, same gender? No, we have two men in the group. Okay. So even men are supporting it? They are. They are. I'm looking at the role of men when it comes to playing a key role, pioneering a gender like this and reaching out to the girl child. What do you think about the perception now that we have this Africanized man who believes in certain things and not others in your interaction with the men? Do you think that there are some things that are changing? Are there others that need to change? Or do we have those that just wouldn't change at all? Well, upon my interaction with them, I realized that things are changing. But we still have those many. Society still believes that our menstruation is something which is not clean or rather it's illegal or it's a sin. So on my interaction with them, I think things are changing. Like for the two men that we have in the group, you see, at a time when you have to grow up, I don't know if you grew up in a society where by Kiddogo, Monamki, Agimes, with the menstruation and all that, men would think like, yeah, where? Men would say, yeah. And there are days, especially when you're starting your menstruation as a girl, there are days it doesn't change at all. So in a society where you're growing up, especially in a society where you feel like you're not even worth what you can maintain. So now, they are bringing in that perspective of, it doesn't have to be normal and we should appreciate them. Rather we should know it's nature and, I would say, periods are beautiful. Wow. They are beautiful. I love what you're saying. And I'm looking at this gentleman that assumes that every lady, you know, you've thought themselves out. Do you know it doesn't even hit men that those things actually happen? That's why at some point, we usually make this joke and say that I'm a woman and I can't live with periods. So God decided, I'm not going to do what I'm going to do. I'm not going to do what I'm going to do. You'll forget. I'm looking at the name, Build Her Confidence. What a strong choice of words there. Thank you. Why build her confidence? I'm very observant in terms of the nitty gritties. I don't know, is there something behind that? Unless I'm reading too much. No, you're okay. Basically, what's all about when it comes to the menstrual hygiene management side, you see in Monamkiakilak, the sanitary towels and all that, you might find that some go ahead and choose clothes, use cotton wools. So at the end of it all, you see that they'll suffer infections and they'll go ahead and lose their self-esteem. Or rather, they'll start interacting with each other while on their menstrual period and the interaction with people, you'll find that they're trying to call themselves or rather stay away from people. So us coming in, actually we're even advocating for tax-free sanitary towels as of now. So us coming in and advocating for the same means that when the sanitary towels are available for the ladies, attempt to acquire on their menstrual periods, I could be seated with you here and I'm menstruating, but my confidence, I didn't say I'm menstruating, but I'm just giving an example here. I get it. So you're building a ladies' confidence. Actually, it is very interesting because if you don't have these materials and I love the fact that you're saying we should have a tax-free, you know, the way some other materials are free actually in public toilets, if we are to have that, it builds a woman's confidence. So even when you stand from a seat, you don't have to look back to check yourself. Every lady suffers from that aspect of building that confidence. What would be your message to that lady that is watching you today, that is struggling with that self-esteem? You know, you keep on checking yourself. You don't know, am I okay? They can't deliver on their job. They can't be a hundred percent. I mean, me, I usually say be you, be confident enough. I love you self and of course I appreciate yourself because if you don't, then who will? Be you. Be you. What is the struggle? Self-esteem. Wake up. We are here. Talk to someone. Richers. Actually our social media pages are out there. We have our numbers out there. You can always give us a call. We are available. Other organizations are. Yeah. And if you look at that particular aspect of confidence, when you go to the ground and you interact with the ladies, the ground, what are some of those things that you've managed to pick out? On the ground that have even made you more inspired and motivated to keep on doing this kind of charity work, if I may call it so. One, I would say that, do you know that girls are having sex for pads? Number two, I have met girls whom they are telling me openly that the parents are not even, they don't even care what they use. Upon asking for the parents for sanitary towels, you'll find that most of them are not their biological parents but guardians. Upon asking them for sanitary towels and all that, they'll be like, what for? You're a big girl. You can step out. Go find sanitary towels for yourselves. That's where the teen pregnancies will come in. And we are actually trying to control that. In as much as we cannot control every other problem out there, but it's something we are really trying to fight and see for it come to an end. Sex for pads needs to stop. It needs to. And actually that you mentioned that there are some products in the public toilets which are free. I would say that where those products are being used, or rather what the products are being used for, it's a matter of choice. No girl chooses to have menstrual cycle. So why don't we have them provided for free as well? Or rather for tax free? If somebody has to be paid for this, then tax should be excluded. You know, sex for pads is also a very motive discussion here. Because I'm looking at two individuals. One is the lady and the other individual is another person or another individual who is at a better place to help this particular lady. Maybe your message to this lady and to this particular other interested party. What would that be? What would you say? For the interested party, I would be take this little girl like your own sister or rather like your own family member. Imagine your sister or rather your daughter being in the same case. How would they feel for the lady? I would say that there are better people to reach out. We have safe spaces out here. Like I just mentioned, they can reach out to us. And of course we'll assist where we can. How can they reach out to you? Well our social media pages are cross-bord. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, we build our confidence initiative across-bord. Now, with this kind of a job like any other, it doesn't come without challenges. I'm looking at you going to the ground and doing this work. It is not like someone is paying you. True. Correct? Yeah. It's not like someone is paying you. But you're doing it because you love it. Because it's passion. Because it's something, it's like I can make it like a calling. What are some of those challenges that you faced on the ground that at some point can even make you say, you know what I feel like giving up? Well, I'd say the biggest challenge is resources around. Like we need mentors. We need finances. Or rather we also need the sanitary towels, the products by themselves. Actually at some point I usually tell people not to give us finances, but the products. Okay. So if probably someone somewhere feels like I have 10 cartons to donate, we'll appreciate that. So like resources is the biggest challenge we're having at that now. But then why are you advocating for the product itself and not money? People's perspective, someone would think like, okay, you want us to give you money for your own use. So that's why we like give us the product. We'll appreciate that. But of course, if someone sends us something. Yes, if someone sends the money, of course, we'll get the products and even if need be, we'll even share the receipt with them. Just for accountability. Have you ever felt like giving up? No. And I don't think if I will. You're not seeing that coming. I'm not seeing that coming. You're strong. I have to, for them. You have to be for them. Because they look up to you. They do. Actually, if I said, now I give you my phone, you'd see, like in the morning I was talking to three girls who were telling me that their products have finished. Two are in Kibra and one is in Machackles. So now I have to find a way of how to reach to them and of course, do the necessary. So this is more than just offering aid in terms of material things. You mentioned something like mentorship. How far does it go in terms of interacting and helping the girls who are in Nairobi and at some point in Machackles? How deep do your conversations go when you interact with them? I would say these girls usually open up a lot because they are talking to strangers because they are talking to people whom I cannot come here and tell you I'm talking to such and such a person and this is what they told me. Being also in the medical field that has told me about confidentiality. So I would say that they usually open up and you'll find that most of them are even suffering mentally. So now, apart from just donating and interacting in terms of the material things, you end up having discussions that are confidential. Discussions that are on mental health. Yes, we do. And actually at some point we usually go ahead and even talk to the parent. That's why we are saying that at some point we'll even need to have professional mentors on board especially when it comes to talking to the parents or other guardians. Now, do you have also mediators who can help because sometimes to help the girls you also need to help the parent. Do you also have such kind of... Except now we have one who is a spiritual woman. She's the link to the Machako's community. Wow. I want to submit this discussion to a close here but maybe you're called to action and your word, your final word, your parting shot, maybe there's something you'd like to say to pass across a message to Cajun for watching it today. That's your camera there. So yeah, I would say that let's all embrace menstruation and appreciate menstruation because as I just told you Ram, menstruation are a beautiful course and of course we need to come out and probably if you see someone struggling with this lack of the products please help them out if you're in a position too. Wow. Ram, how can they reach out to you? How can someone reach out to you if they want to offer a helping hand? I'd build her confidence initiative across board. Thank you so much. And of course that brings us to the end of this particular discussion right here. Thank you so much Mary. You're doing a good job. Thank you. I appreciate it. I feel inspired also. We need more initiatives like this. We do. And I pray that you keep on doing what you're doing and I know that at the end of the day we are touching lives. Yeah, we are. And someone under you will say may it help me and they will in turn help. I'm glad to hear that. We need to hear success stories. We do. And actually I think at some point we need to have probably the girls that you've touched or the girls which have been touched by even other organizations come out and share their stories. Yeah, we need to. We need to build her confidence initiative giving us her, you know, what she's doing to stand out as a lady. This is a strength of a woman. We just, you know, talk about how best you can support the girl child. And as she has said, this is something that it's a basic need. It's not a luxury. So if you can offer a helping hand somewhere feel free to do so. Please particular segment right on why in the morning it has been all about the strength of a woman. My name is Ram Magukko. Remember, we still have more coming up your way. Keep it wine in the morning.