Ethiopia is a country of geographic contrasts, from the depths of the sulfurous Danakil depression to more than 15,000 ft above sea level to the highest peak. In the south, the country is full of lush tropical forests, but to the north and east, it’s full of arid, rocky land.
The northern Tigray region, where Dignity Period distributes most of our pads and education, hosts the 9th tallest mountain in the country, called Amba Alage, that comes in at just under 13,000 ft above sea level. The region is dry, and only a few main roads connect the major cities.
We have delivered pads and educational materials to schools throughout Tigray despite these conditions. This is no small feat. When we began distributing pads, we used donkeys to traverse areas where our team’s delivery vehicles were not able to go. Some of Tigray’s schools are hours on-foot off the main roads.
We’re now able to give the donkeys a break, thanks to our partner Ethiopiaid. They are generously donating Land Cruisers for use in Tigray and the Afar region, to get pads and education to girls who are the most cut off from menstrual health supplies. The Land Cruisers will transport our team for evaluation and training and carry the pads for delivery when schools are ready to receive them.
While the ride is still bumpy and the terrain still rough, we’re able to deliver pads and education reliably, and often ahead of schedule.
This video shows a recent off-road story-gathering trip in Afar, traveling in one of the newly donated vehicles from Ethiopiaid – with a soundtrack of Michael Bolton’s cover of the classic “Lean on Me.”
Thanks, Ethiopiaid – we all need someone to lean on.
