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In countries like Uganda, only one in four children has the opportunity to study at secondary school.

PEAS is a not-for-profit social enterprise that delivers low-cost, secondary education in Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently educating over 14,000 students across 30 sustainably delivered schools in Uganda and Zambia, PEAS focus on getting more girls and boys from disadvantaged communities into quality education and enables them to reach their potential.

Deborah is in Senior 4 at Pioneer High School in the聽Mityana District in Central Uganda. 聽She attends the girl鈥檚 club...

鈥淪ome girls cannot afford to buy sanitary pads because they are too expensive. Like me, I could not afford to buy but with the re-usable pad it gives me the chance to learn."

Rahima, who also attends the girl鈥檚 club, is in Senior 2 at Pioneer High School.

鈥淚 feel comfortable using the sanitary pads and I can continue to come to school. The re-usables absorb everything. My mother does not have the money to buy sanitary pads so it鈥檚 great that this re-usable lasts a whole year.鈥�

Almost two in every three students attending a PEAS school are from the poorest families in Ugandan society 鈥� a much higher proportion than attend government or private schools. Research shows students that gain an education at a PEAS school graduate with exam results equal to, or better than, those same counterparts.

The first challenge is encouraging girls to attend school but an even tougher challenge is ensuring they remain in school. 聽Girls鈥� Clubs, set up across the PEAS school network, provide re-usable sanitary pads, empower girls to realise their potential and teach new skills to increase employability.聽 By providing lighting, security and comfort, PEAS are creating an environment in which girls can thrive.