Changing Lives
Empowering Single Mothers & Adolescent Girls For Dignified Lives
CIPAD works with communities and partners to turn local challenges into opportunities for change. Our projects bring together community participation, innovation, skills development, advocacy, environmental action, and partnerships to create practical and sustainable solutions.
From strengthening citizens’ participation in governance to helping farmers adapt to climate change, nurturing young talent, promoting environmental conservation, and building a culture of integrity among students, our projects are designed to respond to real community needs and create lasting impact.
Partnery: Rotary FoundationLocation: Meru County &
Tharaka Nithi County
Tharaka Nithi County
Skills. Dignity. Opportunity. Keeping Girls in School.
For many single mothers who left school before completing their education, limited skills and economic opportunities can make it difficult to secure sustainable livelihoods and break the cycle of poverty.
At the same time, adolescent girls in remote and economically vulnerable communities can face significant challenges managing their menstrual health, including limited access to affordable menstrual products. These challenges can affect their dignity, wellbeing and ability to remain consistently engaged in school.
Through a partnership with the Rotary Foundation, CIPAD established two tailoring workshops; one in Tigania, Meru County, and another in Kiini, Tharaka Nithi County.
Creating pathways to livelihoods
The tailoring workshops provide single mothers who dropped out of school with practical tailoring and enterprise skills that can enable them to pursue self-employment and build sustainable livelihoods.
The project goes beyond skills training by creating opportunities for women to develop the confidence and capacity to become economically self-reliant and improve the wellbeing of their families.
Keeping girls in school with dignity
The workshops also produce reusable sanitary pads, which are distributed to adolescent girls in remote communities where access to conventional sanitary products can be difficult.
By improving access to reusable menstrual products and menstrual health information, the project helps girls manage their periods with greater dignity and supports their continued participation in school.
CIPAD has also trained more than 2,000 adolescent girls on sexual and reproductive health and menstrual management, providing them with knowledge and practical information to better understand and manage challenges affecting their health and wellbeing.
A model that connects generations
The project brings together two complementary interventions:
Empowering mothers with livelihoods
→ Supporting girls with knowledge and menstrual health resources
→ Strengthening families and communities
 It demonstrates CIPAD’s belief that sustainable change requires addressing the interconnected economic, social and wellbeing challenges facing women and girls.