Promoting Menstrual Health and Dignity for Girls with Disabilities
About Us
SHE FOUNDATION
The SHE Foundation which stands for Social Impact, Health Care and Education is a legally registered NGO in Tanzania that is dedicated to ensuring that no girl is left behind due to a lack of menstrual health support, with a particular focus on girls with disabilities. The Foundation was established by Nshoma Francis Mondi a college student who was inspired by her mother, Mwajuma Kitoi Msangi. Mwajuma, a seasoned child protection, gender, and human rights advocate was moved to action after a 2013 visit to a special needs school in Iringa. During this visit, she personally observed the challenges adolescent disabled girls faced in managing their menstrual hygiene.
What started as personal donations of sanitary supplies, wheelchairs, and school materials has evolved into a national mission. SHE Foundation now focuses on promoting menstrual health and hygiene, raising awareness about albinism and disability, and advocating for inclusion. We work closely with government, local, and international partners to create sustainable change, beginning in the regions of Iringa, Njombe, Mbeya, Morogoro, and Songwe, with the ultimate goal of building a future where every girl can thrive.
How We Make an Impact
We operate across multiple dimensions to guarantee menstrual dignity and education for disabled girls.
OutreachProviding Access
Supplying safe menstrual products and building accessible WASH facilities in schools.
EducationRaising Awareness
Conducting community outreach and menstrual health education to dismantle stigma.
ResearchImpact Evaluation
Monitoring and assessing our programs to ensure sustainable and inclusive benefits.
ResourcesTraining Handbooks
Publishing inclusive manuals for schools, volunteers, and parents across districts.
Menstruation and Learning Barriers
According to national studies, lack of private facilities, fear of leakage, and limited access to products create real obstacles for adolescent girls—especially those with disabilities. We are working directly in communities to change this reality.
These challenges make menstruation a major obstacle to learning and school performance after menarche.
School absenteeism remains a significant barrier to education, learning consistency, and student wellbeing.
Tanzania Mainland has about 290 government primary schools for physically and intellectually challenged pupils across 31 regions—many in rural wards. At Makalala Special Needs Primary School, female students outnumber males 3:2, yet lack of affordable sanitary towels directly drives absenteeism among girls from underserved households.
In rural primary schools, many girls who have reached puberty still lack appropriate sanitary products; some have never seen a sanitary pad, leading to unsafe alternatives or staying home for 3–4 days each cycle.
Our Tangible Impact
Partner With Us
Join forces with us to create sustainable change and expand the impact across Tanzania. Together, we can build a more inclusive future for adolescent girls with disabilities.
Become a Partner