Ecobank, Red Cross rally leaders to support “Keep a Girl in School” initiative

In a bid to support vulnerable school-going girls with menstrual hygiene materials and ensure they remain in school, Ecobank Uganda Limited, in partnership with the Uganda Red Cross Society, have successfully hosted a CEO Fundraiser Breakfast that brought together corporate leaders, development partners, and philanthropists to raise funds for the “Keep a Girl in School” initiative, aimed at supporting

The breakfast, which marked the climax of the Women’s Month celebrations, served as a platform to mobilise support from the private sector and development community towards improving menstrual hygiene management and addressing one of the key barriers preventing girls from staying in school.

The initiative is anchored on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2024 between Ecobank Uganda and the Uganda Red Cross Society to collaborate on humanitarian and community development initiatives.

It focuses on several areas, including health, disaster response and management, blood donor recruitment and mobilisation, pandemic and epidemic response, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), menstrual hygiene management, youth and women empowerment, and sustainability.

Through the “Keep a Girl in School” initiative, Ecobank Uganda is committed to providing financial platforms that enable individuals and organisations to contribute towards providing menstrual hygiene support to vulnerable girls across the country.

Speaking during the event, Grace Muliisa, managing director of Ecobank Uganda, emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing the challenges faced by young girls.

“As a bank, we strongly believe that education is one of the most powerful tools for transforming lives and communities. Through the ‘Keep a Girl in School’ initiative, we are addressing a silent but significant barrier that forces many girls to miss school.

This morning’s fundraiser demonstrates the power of partnerships and collective responsibility in ensuring that every girl has the dignity, confidence, and support she needs to stay in school and achieve her dreams,” Muliisa said.

Robert Kwesiga, Secretary General of the Uganda Red Cross Society, commended Ecobank Uganda for championing the cause and mobilising partners to support humanitarian initiatives.

“The collaboration between Uganda Red Cross and Ecobank Uganda reflects our shared commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable communities, restoring dignity, and improving school retention among young girls. The ‘Keep a Girl in School’ initiative will go a long way in restoring dignity to girls who are forced to miss school due to a lack of menstrual hygiene materials, while also supporting their ability to stay in school and complete their education.”

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda, highlighted the impact created by the initiative, emphasising its importance in advancing girls’ education.

“Initiatives such as ‘Keep a Girl in School’ are critical in supporting our national efforts to ensure inclusive and equitable education for all. By addressing menstrual hygiene challenges, we are not only restoring dignity to young girls but also improving school retention and enabling them to fully participate in their education,” Turyagyenda stated.

The fundraiser reinforced the shared commitment between Ecobank Uganda and the Uganda Red Cross Society to drive impactful community programs that improve lives and support sustainable development.