Bikers donate sanitary towels, learning supplies to remote Malindi school

Kilifi Easy Riders Club during the donation drive in Malindi /HANDOUT

More than 400 learners at Girimacha Comprehensive School in Malindi have received support from a group of motorbike riders in a donation drive aimed at improving school attendance and performance, especially among girls.

The initiative, led by the Kilifi Easy Riders Club and supported by fellow bikers from across the Coast region, saw the delivery of sanitary towels, school supplies, food and learning materials to the remote institution, on the edge of the Arabuko Sokoke Forest.

Backed by sponsors including Equator Kenya Limited, Kitui Flour Mills and Bomani Bookshop, the bikers rode from Mombasa, Kilifi and Malindi in a coordinated effort to reach the school.

Each girl received sanitary pads expected to last six months, while candidates were provided with geometry sets, pens, sharpeners and rubbers.

All students at the school benefited from additional stationary and learning materials.

“We were moved by the challenges faced by this school. Most families here cannot afford sanitary towels and many girls miss school during their periods,” said Bakari Rajab, chairperson of the Kilifi Easy Riders Club, during the donation.

“Our aim is to make sure no child is left behind. With help from our sponsors and community, we have brought items that will make a real difference in their academic journey,” he added.

The group also donated food to assist families in the surrounding community, noting the school’s isolated location has left it overlooked in many government and private support programmes.

Biker Charles Mapinga said the school had reached out for assistance due to rising vulnerability among its students.

“This is part of our mission to give back. We are passionate about charity and particularly concerned about the welfare of the girl child,” he said.

School officials expressed appreciation for the donation.

School’s board chairperson Mwanaharusi Robert noted that the items would help reduce absenteeism among girls and ease the burden on struggling parents.

“Our girls often stay home during menstruation because they don’t have pads. This donation ensures they will remain in school and focus on their studies,” she said.

Irene Kioko, a teacher at the school, added that many teenage girls in the area are exposed to exploitation due to lack of basic hygiene products.

“These sanitary towels will reduce the risk of gender-based violence and help our girls pursue their education with dignity,” she said.

The Kilifi Easy Riders Club called on more well-wishers, donors and biking groups across the country and globally to support similar efforts in neglected villages of Kilifi county.