For Gloria Moduru, a Senior Six student at Rhino Camp High School, staying focused on her final year of secondary school has meant navigating challenges that extend beyond the classroom.
Before receiving her Eco-Jua school bag, Gloria carried a handmade Kitenge bag that she had used since Senior Five. It served her well, but without compartments, her books and scholastic materials were packed together, and the cloth offered little protection from the rain.
That changed when Gloria received an Eco-Jua solar school bag from Windle International Uganda, with support from Absa Bank Uganda.
The waterproof bag has enabled her to organise her books and scholastic materials in separate compartments while protecting them from rain. For Gloria, this has meant being able to keep her learning materials in better condition as she goes to and from school.
The rechargeable solar lamp has also become part of how she studies. As a Senior Six candidate, Gloria studies after dark and has been able to charge the lamp during the day and use it when she continues her studies at night.
The bag has also supported Gloria in managing her menstrual health. With reusable sanitary pads and a menstrual health management book, she has been able to carry the sanitary materials she needs and manage her periods at school with greater privacy and dignity. The raincoat has provided additional protection during rainy weather, helping her continue her journey to school without allowing the weather to disrupt her learning.
For Gloria, the impact is practical and personal:
“This cloth bag I used in Senior Five can now rest. My books are protected from the rain, I can study at night, and I can manage my periods with dignity.”
Gloria’s experience shows how addressing everyday needs can contribute to girls’ retention in school. A girl may have access to a classroom, but remaining engaged in education can also depend on whether she has the practical support to manage menstruation, protect her learning materials, study outside classroom hours and navigate the journey to school.
Through support from Absa Bank Uganda, Windle International Uganda provided Eco-Jua school bags to 600 girls across Kiryandongo, Palabek, Rhino Camp and Imvepi. For Gloria, that support has already translated into a more organised, protected and dignified school experience.
The bag has not changed what Gloria wants to become. It has helped remove some of the everyday obstacles between her and that goal.