Menstruation Matters - by Caroline Kiugo

Today is World Menstrual Hygiene Day. A day we should all feel free and happy to celebrate despite the culture of silence around menstruation and despite that the story has not changed much for many girls around the world with so many school days lost. The absences are caused by girls not attending school during menstruation, many girls forced to miss school each month because of inadequate toilet or washing facilities and insufficient access to sanitary towels.

Today’s Campaign, #MenstruationMatters is to raise awareness of the stigma and practical difficulties many girls face.

To start at the beginning, many girls around the world are not taught what menstruation is until 'menarche', or their first period. Many girls think they are dying when this happens. Many girls have explained that there is a ‘culture of silence’ around menstruation, including in their families. Male family members have no knowledge of menstruation and girls do not feel comfortable even talking to their mothers about the subject. In turn, this ‘culture of silence’ creates a culture of shame and embarrassment around menstruation in families and communities. The stigma around menstruation and menstrual hygiene (is) a violation of several human rights, most importantly of the right to human dignity.

A Dig Deep sponsored Menstrual Health Training session conducted
 by our expert partner WASH Utd

The list of synonyms that refer to menstruation is never ending. We don’t want to talk about it, we don’t even utter the word! In areas where Dig Deep work, menstruation has been associated with something dirty, disgraceful, embarrassing….but how can something so normal and natural a function be associated with shame, stigma, and taboo? The stigma is due, in part, to a lack of knowledge – so here is an attempt to shed light on how Menstruation Matters.

The only way to break the taboo is not only by hiding it but making it so available and out in the open, speaking it out. For too many girls the inner turmoil that happens during menstruation is unbearable. They feel scared, impure, dirty and embarrassed. In schools we partner with, taboos, myths surrounding menstruation are more recognised than menstruation itself. It’s very sad when I listen to the girls in those schools putting across these taboos that they uphold; “I can’t go to church when I’m having my periods because it’s a sin, I can’t visit a vegetable garden because the vegetables will dry up, I can’t play sports during my periods because I’ll lose a lot of blood and become anaemic, I can’t talk it to my father about it because in my culture it’s not allowed, I can’t serve my father food or my brother because I can get a curse.”

In one of the schools there is this girl who wrote a shopping list and gave it to his father, he read it through and came across an item called ‘sanitary towels’. And the father asked her, why do you need an extra towel, you only need one and you’re lucky you have one in our time we never used towels to dry ourselves.

This girl was so embarrassed and ashamed and the only thing she could do is to wait to get back to school and asked one of the teachers to explain to the father what sanitary towels are for.

“In these rural areas it’s tough for these girls being a woman of modest", one teacher said. "We need to change that, no girl should be stuck home, they should be continuing with their studies, most importantly they should be able to talk about menstruation without feeling embarrassed, It’s not a girl issue, it’s a human natural issue but we have just isolated it.”

The biggest problem is managing it. When I was a kid in school, tying the sweater around our waists was a pretty cool thing to do…and walk with a bounce. Then we woke up one fine day, it had become an act of SHAME. Many girls when asked how they feel about menstruation, this how they respond; “I hate it, it’s a misery. Boys in class laugh so much when the teacher explains the process of menstruation during biology lessons. I wish we could all be more relaxed and feel comfortable talking about it.”

Girls drop out of school because they have no access to supplies, not every girl can afford the mainstream sanitary towels or the "fasten your belt", "spread your wings pads" as many boys call it, but also because they attend what many of us call “girl-unfriendly schools,” or schools that

• Don’t have separate toilets for girls. Without decent toilets or washing facilities, girls' health is put at risk and they are likely to drop out of school rather than face the humiliation
• Lack access to clean water. Lack of water made the cleaning process even more cumbersome and
• Don’t have separate environments for girls to wash and dry reusable cloths (especially an issue with boarding schools). The use of clothes are often too embarrassed to dry them in the sun, which means they don’t get disinfected as a result they suffer from reproductive disease caused by poor menstrual hygiene.

Dig Deep would like to thank Days for Girls for the 60 free kits of re-usable sanitary towels and 52 panties  they donated in the Mara. All our work on the Mara is facilitated by the Olare Orok Motorogi Trust to whom we thank also. The kits will be distributed to girls in schools during Menstrual Hygiene Management training in schools that starts on 8^th June -13^th June.

Training male teachers is a vital part of breaking the taboo

Dig Deep not only has provided access to improved sanitary facilities and access to clean water in many schools in Bomet and Narok, also through the concept of Menstrual Hygiene Management training in schools is breaking the silence around menstruation issue by educating girls, boys and teachers about menstruation and shattering myths around it. Male teachers are part of this training, at first they are embarrassed and on the other hand girls feel shy but when the male teachers are baptised with a female name before the training it begins becomes an open interaction; they feel free, happy and confident.

Like Muruganatham says “the sanitary towel has to be brought out of the closet” so is menstruation. It’s time to break the silence and get this done! Let’s engage in the dialogue, let’s talk Menstruation.

Partner for Responsible Travel status achieved - by James Haughton

Great news! It's just been announced by the Kilimanjaro Porter's Assistance Project that Dig Deep will soon be confirmed as the first UK charity or charitable supplier to have been given Partner for Responsible Travel status. This marks the culmination of 2 years of research into the social impact of our Kilimanjaro fundraising climbs and recognises the policies and procedures that have been implemented to ensure fair treatment for our Tanzanian mountain crews.

Our suppliers African Scenic Safaris and Trek to Kili have been at the forefront of the movement for ethical tourism in Tanzania and we want to thank them for their determination to work towards these shared aspirations.

Dig Deep runs sponsored climbs for fundraisers from the UK to raise funds for our water and sanitation projects in Kenya (www.digdeep.org.uk). Porters traditionally are casual workers from rural areas desperate for employment. Their desperation often leads them to accept poor conditions from the guides that employ them. Their work involves carrying upto 25kg in weight up the mountain and frequently they are asked to carry in excess of this weight limit by unscrupulous operators. You can find out more about the issues facing Kilimanjaro porters by watching several documentaries that are available on YouTube.

Of Dig Deep's drive to Partner status, Director Ben Skelton said: "Dig Deep has worked closely with local NGO's around Kilimanjaro to ensure that our sponsored climbs are crewed by staff that are paid, fed and equipped to the highest standards. This reflects our commitment to put people first at all times in all areas of activity. We hope that in being recognised by KPAP today we will be able to act as advocates to other organisations in the UK to ensure their supply reaches the highest ethical standards."

You can find more information about the trips that Dig Deep offers by visiting www.climbforcleanwater.org

My Dig Deep Water Challenge Experience by Jo Black

Last week, Jessica and I decided to take on the #digdeepwaterchallenge and only use 5 litres of water a day for 5 days (so 25L in total). Now to your average Brit, this might sound like a lot of water and it certainly looks like a sizeable amount, but when you consider that this is all the water we can use for everything it doesn’t seem like that much anymore.

Jo & Jess with their daily allowance of water.

This means that I didn’t shower for a week (70L on average), didn’t flush the toilet for a week (13.6L, sorry flatmate!) nor did I stick any dirty clothes in the washing machine (60L) or use the dishwasher (13L) or in fact, wash my dishes at all. It’s a good job I have a lot of saucepans because by the end of the week I was eating out of them.  

I knew that this challenge was going to be difficult, especially because I have the worst memory in the world so had to write notes everywhere reminding myself not to turn the tap on or flush the toilet. The one thing I didn’t expect was the fatigue. Through ensuring that I had enough water to clean my hands with and have a flannel wash with, it meant that the water I was drinking was significantly reduced. I think I was consuming around 1L of liquids (we counted other liquids we may be consuming too like coffee and had to measure out how much we put in the kettle). On average, I try to consume 2.5L of water a day. I could feel the effects that consuming less water was having on my body – I was more lethargic, my skin deteriorated (in only 5 days!) and (weirdly) I wanted to eat loads more (not sure about the science in that!).

A 5 Litre bottle of water showing Jo's daily water limit.

In fact, I even tried to go to the gym on the Monday (bad idea) and had to leave after 20 minutes – I had hardly any energy and I was very aware that over-exertion could lead to a very smelly Jo for the next couple of days. On Wednesday, Jessica came over for dinner which was incredibly exciting because it meant we could boil some pasta (it’s amazing how much you miss something until you’re not allowed it anymore) using our shared water.

So, what, you may ask, were we doing it for? There are a few reasons. Firstly, to raise awareness of World Water Day (22^nd March) because 750 million people still don’t have access to clean, safe water and that is a travesty. Secondly, to show our student fundraisers that we’re all in this together and to thank them for the incredibly hard work they do for us all year. Thirdly, to accurately show how much I take water for granted. Working for a water charity means I think about the sacredness of water more than most, but I still didn’t realise how much I consumed day to day, and for me the results are shocking.

So, I’ve certainly picked up some good habits from doing the challenge, and I hope I’ve raised awareness amongst my peers too. Will I be doing it next year? Certainly! Feel free to join us and look out for the #digdeepwaterchallenge in 2016. 

Water Changes Everything-by Caroline Kiugo

Today, it’s a day marked to celebrate water and Dig Deep would like to celebrate this day by reflecting on the achievements of the schools we have partnered with in Ndanai, Bomet County.

To those who have access to clean and safe water that think about no more than walking across the room and turning on a tap, that was not the case for thousands of students in Ndanai. They walked six- eight kilometres each day to collect water from unreliable sources– time which could be spent in school.

In the 12 schools we installed Rain Water Harvesting systems in Ndanai, teachers and students recognize that water is a problem for more than 1 billion people and they were part of the affected. Today they recognise water as their hub and recognise the transformational changes they have seen as a result of clean water.

Water is a hub to many students because it has been an entry point to all areas they need to consider to create the future they want. Regular attendance to school, improved education, improved health, clean sanitation and improved hygiene practices.

Every day is a world water day for them.

Caoline inspects a tippy-tap in Ndanai. A simple and hygienic way of dispensing water for cleaning.

One of the Head teachers at Rotik Secondary highlighted that ‘Unclean water and a lack of basic sanitation are undermining efforts to end extreme poverty and disease in our community, water is fundamental to improving the livelihoods and well-being of the poor’. He shared students at his schools have maintained personal cleanliness since they got access to clean water and one-thirds of the students reported with diarrhoea episodes in the school due to unsafe drinking water every week is now to zero.

In a different school the head teacher relayed that the disparity of water and sanitation hygiene-related knowledge, attitude and practices among student’s compared to the past has changed due to access of clean water in their school and the impact of Hygiene education. ‘Positive behaviours and hygiene practices are observed, applied at all times by the students. These positive behaviours are not left at the school gate, they are practised in the community by the students, which has also driven the community to accept such changes’ he added.

A Dig Deep latrine block with a rainwater harvesting system

Millions of children across the world today, access to safe water is still a struggle. Providing better water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in schools reduces hygiene-related diseases and can help claim the 272 million schools days missed every year due to diarrhoea.

In Bomet, where schools and communities have access to clean and safe drinking water represents a small percentage. Thousands of other schools in that area the story is different, the tap stands are not across the other room or next to a kitchen. What would it take to ensure that the thousands of students still losing 272 million school days and six hours have access to clean water? Join Dig Deep fundraising team and let’s start the journey together, to reach that goal. One student at a time.

Visiting the Queen (Part II of my UK experience) - by Caroline Kiugo

Once I settled into Sheffield it was time for work. I am very grateful for the quality training I got from Ben (Director UK) and James (Assistant Director). The training took 2 weeks and every day I got a chance to explore and gain new ideas and skills, though it seemed too broad to be digested within those 2 weeks but it turned out they were the best tutors, the training was exciting too. (Not my university training when 2 hours seemed the longest hours in my life, and I’m sure I’m not alone on this). I completely felt like a new me –new skills, added knowledge and better understanding of management, projects design, budgeting, marketing. They had a flair for the subjects and were able to enliven my skills, adding capabilities and knowledge, they polished me! My frozen concentration turned out to be creative juices.

With Dig Deep growing rapidly with the projects and staff capacity, we ensure we also grow healthily in skills and experience. With my training wheels firmly on it helped me to neutralize the natural angst of confronting my weaker skills and I feel able to cruise on my very own. After my busy training schedule I was able to take some annual leave for a few days.

Ben and Carol, prior to trustees meeting in London

My Trip to the Most Magical city (London)

Most beautiful city, magical. Romantic and full of fine things…like art I went, I saw and I fell in love with it. Remember all I wanted to visit since I was young was the land of the Queen, TO SEE THE QUEEN!

The fast biggest train.... 2 hours from London to Sheffield!!!! At a point it felt as if I would burst my eardrums due to how fast it was going... The underground was like Hogwarts Express... well to some extent it is true, but the rest pretty much is just English.

Every piece of this Euro-experience was to cherish for a lifetime. The fact that I had to ride in a train alone when going shopping.... and to the airport was a completely new phenomenon to me nonetheless I enjoyed it. Before trip I thought it was about firsts…first time in another Country.. first ride in a tube... first time on an electric train... first time in Europe.. London is surprisingly bigger than I thought it was. This is the city where everybody is rich!! The kind of cars that roll there ... Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche.. 

I am grateful for the taste of fashion, good dresses and amazing accessories, and the feel of good fabric, I appreciate the creative minds that design these wonderful garments that make me feel and look wonderful….when I put them on I don’t pass unnoticed-I am talking about Primani (haha), New look, River Island….unending list, just like the unending Oxford Street.

Carol and the first of many shopping bags

What a challenge it was to sample all these delights, my feet still hurt when I remember the shortest journey from one shop to another yet so far not easy settling which shoe to pick they all looked the same-very stunning.  

I am grateful for good English food, from the tasteful great burgers that I loved quite a lot to the Japanese noodles I had once, that always fell off my chopsticks (need to practice more), wonderful Middle East falafels that I was introduced to- unlike noodles at least there was no methodology of eating them, my hands worked well holding the falafel together, spicy Mexican fajitas and amazing Indian curries (not forgetting Spanish food although I couldn’t read what was written on the menu!).

I am grateful for different cultures and races I saw. I now understand why some people have two weddings for one marriage when people mix in the diversity. This has made me understand though different, we are still very similar in very many ways. We can be kind, we can help and we can smile no matter where we come from. Variety is surely the spice of life." It feels really good to say that, I had my share of local tourism around the magical city. Most memorable was when I went to the museum, I fell I love with the most amazing art.

It was an incredible experience, which was spent in the company of people I hold dear, ASANTE.

They say be careful what you wish for, let me rephrase… I think you should be careful about how you wish for what you want. I finally visited Buckingham Palace... thought I was to see the Queen....and  my fairy tale since I was a child would have been complete, guards were changed but no see of the Queen-my wish became a fantasy as I walked away in disappointment. Well, at least I can google her and I have this proof.

It was more about being grateful! Grateful for the chance to experience a new culture, food, people and getting so much kindness and hospitality from all the colleagues that hosted me. It’s true- the world is indeed a small place its only as big as we let it be.. deep down we are all the same despite borders.. we laugh, cry, love and sleep at night.

However, experience doesn't come without its own set of surprises. I learnt and observed few things.

1. When someone tells you ' That's funny' what they actually mean is that it is actually not.
2. Everyone stands behind the bar..... they practically just crowd there, there no waiters passing drinks! In Kenya I wonder what would happen with those who do one drink all night....
3. People in England say - Ain't it - (meaning isn't it)...it is just wrong!! grammatically.. I can never get used to it.

I loved every chance and experience the few weeks I spent in England-I wonder what would happen if I stayed there for months… Well, success comes to those who embrace change and not those who resist it…I would embrace all the months, it’s that simple!

First Impressions of England - by Caroline Kiugo

In January 2015, New Country Manager Caroline came to the UK for training and to meet the UK team in Sheffield. We asked her to blog about her experience. Here is the first of several blogs on her visit to the UK.

"This is my first blog to write, all my thoughts, feelings, opinions in England for a short time will not know any boundaries. I have had so much happen in such a short time that I can't squeeze into one blog post.

This was my first time out of Africa (It always has to start from somewhere) and I was nervous as a worm in a henhouse. My friends thought I was going to get lost when connecting my flights in Dubai..... I was too. But I got to my destination safe and sound.

I always had this picture of England in my head, from the movies (Pride & Prejudice), books like Jane Eyre... I wanted to come to the land of the queen, ever since I was young, TO SEE THE QUEEN! When you grow up reading Cinderella and beauty and the beast... all you want to see a palace, the queen and squirrels on the compound. Or better yet my adult imagination made me think that it would look like.

View of Sheffield from Caroline's Accommodation

My colleague Ben, picked me up from the airport and something was unusual as we drove to my hotel. No one was honking on the roads and as tempted I was to ask him, I held back but luckily I got an opportunity to raise the question when we had to follow a cyclist, Ben wasn’t impatient, he wasn’t hooting he drove at 0 speed, in short he gave a cyclist WAY. I phrased my question on what I would have done if I was the one driving or someone else in my Country ‘I would have honked, passed the cyclist, shout at him and honk as a sign I was angry for 5 minutes’ (Old habits die hard) . He answered my question, it’s an offence to do so, its noise disturbance in England while it’s a day to day norm in my beautiful country.

We passed through this big ‘white’ park covered in snow and many white animals (sheep), it was beautiful. Although, it was a disappointment in a humorous way to see such a big park with no elephant, lions, buffalo, leopards or Rhinos or small ones like gazelles as I AM USED TO SEE IN MY COUNTRY.

I noticed everyone observed the traffic lights, the city was so quiet and in an orderly manner and that made me to recover from the matatu (local buses in Kenya) fragrance oven! Until the winter weather and its meaning struck me.

First day when the clock struck 3 am I was already awake…3 hours difference to my usual wake up time, this happened for 3 days and by the fourth day I was an English timer. I woke up not feeling my toes, curling like a cat at a corner and under a heater which was reading… heat 30 degrees. I had so many mixed feelings, emotions were running high how will I survive this weather? I promised myself to enjoy the ‘moments’ whether cold or warm, it was time to push doors that clearly say PULL!

Furthermore, adventure doesn't come without its own set of surprises. In this case winter was my adventure.

The first day to the office was full of anxiety of meeting the UK team, as we walked with Ben from St. Mary’s street to Ashland Road I was grateful for life, it's the most wonderful experience to be able to give and receive. To be able to see different things, colours, faces and places. Although I lost count of the many bars in Sheffield…

As a pedestrian you have right of way, not only can you use zebra crossing but also there were press buttons (sorry didn’t ask what they are called). They were at every sign of zebra crossing, pressing the button stopped the moving vehicles to give you right of way; when it buzzed all the vehicles stopped. (It was hilarious but the most important road technology I wished we had in our country).

By the end of the day I was grateful for so many things and people that were adorable especially Dig Deep UK team (Thanks guys), I have no idea how I would have made it through if it were not for the kindness, warm welcome from you.

The rest of week 1 went on well. Snowballing and sledging, every piece of this experience was to cherish for a lifetime. The fact that I had to sledge.... was a completely new phenomenon to me nonetheless I enjoyed it."

Caroline enjoying the seasonal weather and demonstrating some fearless sledging.