School: New Beginnings Secondary School
Dedication: Brian and Joelle Kelly Family Foundation
Completion Date: September 26, 2024
School: New Beginnings Secondary School
District: Mangochi
Country: Malawi
Struggles and Challenges
At New Beginnings Secondary School, girls faced challenges managing their periods while trying to keep up with their education. Before the Blossom Project, girls had to share toilet facilities with boys, and the existing structures were in poor condition. Damaged roofing and limited privacy made the facilities uncomfortable and unsuitable for managing menstrual hygiene.
For girls navigating puberty, these conditions created an added barrier to education. Some female learners reported missing school during their periods because they lacked a private, appropriate place to manage their menstrual hygiene. What should have been an ordinary part of the school day could instead become a reason to stay home.
Every girl deserves to attend school feeling comfortable, safe, and ready to learn. At New Beginnings Secondary School, the lack of suitable sanitation facilities made that more difficult. Something had to change.
After the Blossom Project
On September 26, 2024, Water Wells for Africa (WWFA), with the support of the Brian and Joelle Kelly Family Foundation, completed the Blossom Project at New Beginnings Secondary School. The project provided a dedicated girls’ hygiene and sanitation facility, giving female students a more private and appropriate space to manage their menstrual hygiene.
The new facility is operational and actively used by students. Girls now have greater privacy and comfort at school, helping create a more supportive environment where they can focus on their education without the same concerns about managing their periods.
Transformation and Impact
Greater Privacy and Dignity: A dedicated girls’ hygiene facility gives students a private space to manage their menstrual hygiene.
Improved Menstrual Hygiene Management: Girls have more appropriate facilities to care for themselves during their periods, reducing the challenges they previously faced at school.
Greater Comfort and Confidence: Female learners report feeling more comfortable and confident with a facility designed specifically for their needs.
Support for School Attendance: Students have shared that menstrual hygiene challenges previously made some girls prefer to stay home. The new facility helps remove one of those barriers to consistent attendance.
A Growing School Community: Enrollment has increased substantially in recent years, reflecting the school’s growth during a period that included the Blossom Project. While enrollment growth cannot be attributed to the facility alone, improved sanitation contributes to a more supportive learning environment for girls.
Enrollment by Year
- 2022: 130 students
- 2023: 120 students
- 2024: 240 students (Blossom Project completed)
- 2025: 297 students (155 girls, 142 boys)
- 2026: 327 students
- 2026–27: 328 students (provisional; enrollment ongoing)
From 130 students in 2022 to 327 in 2026, enrollment grew by approximately 151%. As New Beginnings Secondary School continues to grow, appropriate sanitation facilities remain an important part of creating an environment where girls can participate in their education with greater comfort and dignity.
Community Voices
Female learners have described the difference a dedicated girls’ facility makes in their daily school experience:
“We used to feel uncomfortable because we shared the toilets with boys. Now that we have our own facility, we feel more comfortable and have the privacy we need.”
“Managing our periods at school used to be difficult. Having a facility specifically for girls makes it easier for us to take care of ourselves without feeling embarrassed.”
“Sometimes girls would prefer to stay home during their periods because of the challenges at school. Having this facility gives us more confidence to come to school and continue learning.”
These voices reflect why private, appropriate sanitation facilities matter. The Blossom Project at New Beginnings Secondary School is more than a construction project—it is an investment in girls’ dignity, confidence, and opportunity to learn.
MAKE A DONATION TO THE BLOSSOM PROJECT
Be Part of the Next Blossom Project
Are you as inspired by this project as we are? Help another school create a safer, more supportive environment for girls. Your donation can help provide the hygiene and sanitation facilities students need to manage their periods with dignity and stay focused on their education.
You can also share this post on social media with your friends and family using the share icons below.
