YEI COUNTY, — Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), through its ResPEct project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union, concluded a weeklong distribution of dignity kits to schoolchildren in Yei County, Sept. 16, 2025.

A total of 446 girls and 282 boys from five primary and secondary schools in Mugwo, Tore and Yei Town Payams received kits designed to reduce barriers linked to menstruation and improve student well-being. The effort began Sept. 2.

The initiative targets period poverty — the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products and information  which often contributes to absenteeism and dropout rates among girls. Each kit contains hygiene items to help girls manage menstruation safely and with confidence, supporting their health, dignity and continued education.

Over the next few months, the project will distribute an additional 2,300 kits for girls and 1,115 kits for boys across schools in Yei, Juba and Aweil West counties. The inclusion of boys aims to promote hygiene awareness and encourage supportive attitudes, creating stigma-free school environments while helping prevent gender-based violence. The effort follows the “Engagement of Men and Boys in Emergencies” approach, which seeks to transform harmful cultural norms and advance gender equality in 15 schools.

In South Sudan, GIZ implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The ResPEct project “Stop SGBV: Respond, Prevent, Educate!” — is co-funded by the European Union. Germany provides humanitarian assistance and supports development in areas including governance, rural development, sustainable food systems, water and sanitation, peacebuilding, gender equality and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence.

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 member states that promotes democracy, human rights, equality and sustainable development worldwide. GIZ, a German federal enterprise, operates in more than 120 countries to support international cooperation, education initiatives and long-term improvements in living conditions.