Graduation of second cohort of 20 adolescent mothers through its groundbreaking Beads for Pads program.
As the world commemorates World Youth Skills Day, a quiet but transformative revolution is unfolding in Kajiado County, Kenya.
At the heart of this change is A Pack A Month (APAM)—a grassroots initiative founded by award-winning youth advocate Jackline Saleiyan, widely known as Jackie Wa Pads.
This July, APAM celebrated a key milestone: the graduation of its second cohort of 20 adolescent mothers through its groundbreaking Beads for Pads program.
More Than Beads. More Than Pads. A Lifeline.
For adolescent girls and young mothers in underserved communities, menstrual poverty is more than an inconvenience—it is a barrier to education, dignity, and health.
Without access to sanitary pads, many are forced to stay home during their periods. Some resort to makeshift alternatives like dirty rags, old mattresses, or even sitting in sand.
Others face even harsher realities.
“We have seen cases where girls exchange sex for pads,” says Jackline. “This is not just a hygiene issue—it’s a human rights issue.”
These challenges are even more severe for adolescent mothers, many of whom are survivors of defilement and already burdened by stigma, economic hardship, and isolation.
APAM was founded to rewrite its story.
The Beads for Pads Model: Skills for Dignity
APAM’s Beads for Pads program is built on a radical, restorative idea: teaching skills that not only generate income but also restore dignity.
Through hands-on training in beadwork and jewelry-making, adolescent mothers gain both a livelihood and autonomy.
Their creations serve a dual purpose:
- Income Generation – Beaded items are sold locally or through APAM’s networks to earn personal income.
- Pad Redemption – Beadwork is accepted within APAM as a currency. Graduates can exchange their products for sanitary pads, ensuring continued menstrual health support even without cash.
This closed-loop model doesn’t just offer temporary aid. It permanently shifts the balance of power, giving girls tools to reclaim their futures on their terms.
“Before this program, I felt like my life had stopped,” says Faith N., 19, a recent graduate.
“Learning how to bead gave me a new skill, a new purpose, and hope. Now I can support my baby—and I know I’m not just a survivor. I’m a provider. I never have to miss a day because of my period again.”
Support Beyond Skills: A Daycare for Survivors
True empowerment also means addressing barriers to access, and that includes childcare. APAM is home to Kenya’s first youth-led free daycare center designed specifically for the children of adolescent mothers who are survivors of sexual violence.
This innovative center, informed by trauma-care principles, allows young mothers to fully participate in training—or even return to school—without worrying about their babies’ well-being.
“We don’t just empower girls with skills,” Jackline explains. “We also remove the barriers that block them from using those skills. The daycare is not a side project. It’s central to healing and growth.”
Measurable Impact. Enduring Change.
Since its founding, APAM has achieved milestones that speak to its vision and reach:
- 58,000+ sanitary pads distributed
- 40+ adolescent mothers rescued and supported
- Two full cohorts trained through Beads for Pads
- Kenya’s first youth-led free daycare launched
But its impact is not just in numbers. Graduates walk away with confidence, community, and the tools to reclaim their identities as providers, leaders, and entrepreneurs.
A Leader of Her Generation
At the helm of this movement is Jackline Saleiyan, whose leadership has earned her national and continental accolades. She is a recipient of:
- Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW)
- The Trailblazer Award (2024)
- The Chandaria Award
- Utumishi Bora Innovation Award – 2nd Runner-Up
- Kajiado County Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Award
- Mwanamke Bomba and Covid-19 Hero honors
- And notably, she is the youngest board member of the Kenya Alliance for the Advancement of Children.
In 2024, she was named among the Top 50 African Women in Development, and later represented Kenyan youth at the United Nations Summit of the Future, spotlighting the urgent link between menstrual health, gender equity, and youth empowerment.
“This isn’t just about beads or pads—it’s about reclaiming futures,” Jackline says.
“Every bracelet, every redeemed pad, every daycare moment—these are acts of justice.”
The Bigger Picture: A Blueprint for Youth-Centered Change
As Kenya grapples with youth unemployment, period poverty, and gender-based violence, the Beads for Pads model offers more than relief.
It provides a sustainable, replicable blueprint for community-led, trauma-informed development. It is not just a social enterprise—it is a movement for justice, healing, and self-reliance.
This World Youth Skills Day, the 20 young mothers graduating from Beads for Pads are not just celebrating a milestone. They are leading a revolution—one bead, one pad, one empowered choice at a time.
“Your skill is not just a means to survive—it is a tool to rewrite your story. Whether it’s beadwork, baking, coding, caregiving, or carpentry—own your skill, honor your process, and turn it into power. You are not too young to rebuild. You are not too late to start,” says Jackline.
