Breaking the silence: What it’s like working with girls in SafiCycle

Rebecca Masoni, Menstrual Hygiene Management Coordinator at LifeStraw, shares her experience bringing the SafiCycle program to girls in western Kenya.

In Kenya, nearly 65% of girls cannot afford period hygiene products. As a result, they often resort to using rags, pieces of cloth, or sponges just to get by each month. It is uncomfortable, unhygienic, strips them of confidence, and forces them to miss school.

 SafiCycle, a movement by LifeStraw, is changing that.

SafiCycle: Where It All Began

During my fieldwork with LifeStraw, while my focus was on safe water as part of our Give Back program, the girls I met opened my eyes to a much deeper menace. Many quietly shared how they struggled through their periods using old pieces of cloth, wearing two panties, or using pieces of sponges. It broke my heart!

Back home, I started experimenting with DIY ways to stitch a few reusable pads and later, with support from friends, pooled funds to buy them more period products. Their smiles said it all.

That simple act grew into SafiCycle, a program helping girls manage their periods with knowledge, confidence, and dignity—and restoring a sense of normalcy “one girl, one cycle at a time.”

The Game-changer: Reusable Period Panties

In 2023, LifeStraw partnered with The Period Company to begin using their reusable panties in SafiCycle. This is a reusable underwear with an absorbent layer that lasts up to five years. It has been nothing short of revolutionary.

During my interactions with the girls in different focus group discussions, one 13-year-old girl said, “The panty has helped save a lot on pads, as at times it was hard to get.” A 12-year-old girl said it was a lifesaver and that she now had peace knowing she could go through her period freely. A 16-year-old girl stated that she had a stress-free and hygienic period.

What’s been even more moving for me is hearing from parents.

One mother told us, “The Period Panty was a blessing for my two girls. We couldn’t afford pads every month, but now they’re comfortable and happy.”

Even fathers have started showing up in community meetings, eager to learn how to support their daughters. These small shifts in attitude mean a lot: They show that period health is becoming everyone’s conversation.

Beyond Hygiene: Building Confidence And Leadership

For me, working with these girls has proven one thing: period health is about much more than hygiene. It’s about education, equality, and empowerment.

“I used to feel dirty when I was on my period,” one girl said during a discussion. “Now I know it’s just part of growing up.”

When a girl misses school for five days every month, she can lose more than 60 learning days a year. The SafiCycle program is changing that narrative.

Through focus group discussions, we’ve discovered how many harmful myths still exist. Some girls were told not to cook, touch plants, or even fetch water during their periods. Others believed talking about periods brings bad luck.

By creating safe, friendly spaces, the girls are learning that none of these are true. And when they start correcting these myths themselves, and teaching their siblings, classmates, and even their parents, that’s when real change happens.

Looking To A Brighter Future

Working with the girls in the SafiCycle program has changed me as much as it has changed them. Every smile, every question, every honest conversation reminds me how powerful education and empathy can be.

The journey isn’t always easy. There are still challenges, from cultural taboos to community support. But we’ve seen what’s possible when girls are given knowledge and support.

Our hope is simple: that no girl will ever have to miss school because of her period.

When a girl is free to learn, she’s free to lead!

Join the movement
Every girl deserves the chance to learn with confidence and dignity—without her period standing in the way. By supporting SafiCycle, you’re not just providing a product, you’re fueling education, leadership, and equality.

Donate today and help us reach more girls, one cycle at a time.