My name is Nabirye Aisha, and I am 17 years old. I study at Destiny College School in Nabitende-Banada, and I dream of one day becoming a nurse. But until recently, that dream felt far away.
When I reached puberty, life became difficult. As a Muslim girl, there was pressure from my family to marry early and start having children. At school, I struggled because I didn’t always have access to proper menstrual products. My parents didn’t provide for my basic needs, so during my period I often stayed home out of shame. Missing classes made me feel left behind, and I watched other girls drop out completely. Some even got married or pregnant at a young age, and it felt like that might happen to me too.
Everything changed when I joined UVP’s ARH program at my school. The sessions taught me so much about puberty, adolescence, and how to care for myself during menstruation. My favorite part was learning how to track my menstrual calendar. Now I know when to expect my period, and I prepare myself—both physically and emotionally.
Because of this, I no longer feel ashamed or worried. I can attend school even during my period, and I share what I’ve learned with my friends and siblings. I even teach other girls how to track their cycles so they don’t have to miss school like I once did.
I feel so much more confident now. Most importantly, I believe in my future. I want to finish school, become a nurse, and use what I’ve learned to help other girls manage their reproductive health so they can reach their dreams too.