OUR STORY
Binti Mwangaza: Our History
Binti Mwangaza was founded with a vision to bring light and hope to communities, particularly focusing on the empowerment of women and girls. The name “Binti Mwangaza,” meaning “Daughter of Light,” reflects our belief that when women shine, entire communities thrive.
Our journey began in 2009 when our founder, Ann Gakii, was working with a women-led microfinance institution in western Kenya. During her visits to rural women’s groups, she noticed a heartbreaking trend—many teenage girls were absent from school simply because they couldn’t afford sanitary towels. Further investigation revealed that these girls resorted to using unsafe materials like old mattress pieces, clothes, and even leaves. This lack of access led to stigmatization, school dropouts, and increased vulnerability to early marriages and exploitation.
Determined to break this cycle of poverty and inequality, Ann, along with a group of passionate individuals, founded Binti Mwangaza in 2012. What started as a small initiative providing reusable sanitary pads and menstrual health education soon evolved into a multi-faceted organization addressing broader issues affecting women and young adults in vulnerable communities.
Through dedication, partnerships, and a shared vision for change, Binti Mwangaza has grown into a vibrant organization touching the lives of countless women and girls. Our work is far from over, but with every reusable pad distributed, every business launched, and every girl who stays in school, we move closer to a world where no woman is left behind.
Freedom For Life!
Our flagship Menstrual Health and Hygiene Program has distributed over 20,000 reusable sanitary kits, keeping thousands of girls in school and fostering menstrual health awareness among both girls and boys to break the stigma.
Recognizing the economic barriers that many women face, we launched the Hold My Hand Initiative (HmH), which equips women and young adults with business and entrepreneurial skills, helping them achieve financial independence. Through training in value addition, product development, and market research, many women have transformed their crafts and talents into sustainable sources of income.
Additionally, our Water and Sanitation Program (WASH) was introduced to ensure that communities have access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities. Many low-income families struggle with water scarcity, and for young girls, this often means sacrificing their education to fetch water for their households. By installing boreholes, water filtration systems, and gender-sensitive sanitation facilities in schools, we have significantly improved hygiene and school attendance rates.
To sustain our impact, we have also introduced dressmaking and social enterprise projects, where women learn valuable tailoring skills. The funds generated from these ventures are reinvested into our programs, ensuring that we remain community-driven and self-sustaining.
