The visiting Italian First lady Laura Mattarella has commended her counterpart, Mutinta Hichilema for coming up with the “Stay in School Initiative project” which is aimed at keeping girls in school.
Ms Mattarella said the initiative is excellent as it also empowers women and youths with skills on how to make reusable sanitary towels thereby making them self-reliant.
ZANIS reports that Ms Mattarella said this today when she visited the “Stay in School Initiative project in woodlands with her counterpart Mutinta Hichilema.
And Mrs Hichilema said about 185 women from across the country have so far been trained in making reusable sanitary towels.
She said the project will be rolled out countrywide as it has received overwhelming response from the general public and cooperating partners.
Mrs Hichilema stated that the project is being implemented with other stakeholders such as traditional leaders and head teachers among others.
She noted that with the free education policy that government introduced there was a big gap with regards to girls not attending classes especially in rural areas hence the reason for the establishment of the project of making reusable sanitary towels.
Mrs Hichilema disclosed that some cooperating partners have come on board and donated sewing machines and other materials to the project.