Exploring Pakasa Art and Fashion: A Fusion of Creativity, Community and Opportunity

Fashion showcase by Lulungi Couture founded by Joanita Nabagesera- the creative behing the Pakasa Art and Fashion

Pakasa Art and Fashion is a community showcase and artvocacy campaign to promote the work of young creative entrepreneurs for better recognition, increased investment and participation in leadership. Pakasa Art and Fashion provided a platform for young creatives designers to show case their designs and gain visibility thus boosting their fashion, crafts and performing arts businesses.

Held in celebration of the 2026 International Women’s Day- Give to Gain, the event especially recognised the contribution of girls and young women in the creative and cultural ast sector to nurturing of talents and community development. The event featured models of various ages, sizes, backgrounds as well as people with disabilities to reflect the true diversity of the community.

Cheza Youth Initiative performing at Pakasa Art and Fashion

Moreover, the event showcased traditional costumes and textiles, enhancing appreciation for diverse heritages, this preserving our culture, bridging the gap between traditional heritage and contemporary fashion. Similarly, the event promoted Eco-friendly fashion by encouraging use of upcycled and locally sourced materials such as back cloth, kitenge, sisal and others

Pakasa Art and Fashion-season one was organized by Lulungi Couture with Sanyu Centre for Arts and Rights (SARI) in collaboration with Children’s Rights and Violence Prevention Fund (CRVPF) on 14^th March 2026 at Express Field Kanyanya. The event was laced with live performances of traditional and contemporary dances as well as testimonies of job creation among young creatives who have been trained in SARI- Empowering Youth through Data and Community Development program. The event was attended by local, women and youth leaders, development partners, youth, women and school children as well as six media houses.

Models showcasing bags made by Artists supported by SARI

Ten designers who had gone through SARI training program showcased their work with locally sourced items like Kitengi, bark cloth, beads and others, during the runway segments.

Similarly, the Artisan Corner consisted of stalls for local creators to sell their unique creations like bags, garments, perfume, jewellery, fabrics, and accessories. Some designers sold their pieces like bags and attires that were showcased on the runway, while others received orders from new customers that had attended the event. The designers got professional content for their social media with professional videos and photos that they received after the show.

Furthermore, a panel was held on discussions about inclusivity, entrepreneurship, community development and youth participation in leadership.

The team of panelists from Children's Rights Violence Prevention Fund at the Pakasa Art and Fashion

The community members recognized the benefits of vocational arts skills and the need to uphold these skills in young people for employment and catalysing social change.

More young people reported growing interest in the creative and cultural arts sector. Even with the informality that usually characterises the sector, Uganda’s youth have shown that that they can still make something out of their skills. Given the relevant resources, knowledge and appreciation, youth will not only transform their own lives, but also be catalysts of the development of the creative and cultural arts sector.

Better Menstrual Hygiene and the Fight Against Fistula

I want to speak to you about something that affects millions of girls and women—but is often hidden in silence: menstrual hygiene and a condition called obstetric fistula. You might be wondering, what do periods have to do with childbirth injuries? The answer is: everything.

When girls don’t have access to clean, safe menstrual products, they may use rags, leaves, or even sand. These unhygienic materials can cause infections in the reproductive system. And when those infections go untreated, they can weaken the body—especially during childbirth. That’s when fistula can happen: a tear between the birth canal and bladder or rectum, leaving a woman leaking urine or feces. It’s painful, isolating, and preventable.

But here’s the good news: proper menstrual hygiene saves lives.

When girls manage their periods with dignity, they stay in school. They learn about their bodies. They grow up informed, confident, and ready to seek care when pregnant. That’s how a pad today can prevent a fistula tomorrow.

So what can we do?

• Support access to reusable pads like Rozy Reusable Sanitary Pads—they’re safe, sustainable, and affordable.

• Talk openly about periods. End the shame. Start the education.

• Empower each other. Share knowledge. Protect our sisters.

Menstrual hygiene is not just about comfort. It’s about health, dignity, and future motherhood. Let’s be the generation that ends fistula—and it starts with how we treat menstruation.

Compiled by

Rosette Kyakyo

Fistula-Free Girls and Young Women project

A PERIOD FRIENDLY WORLD!

Fatuma is one of the many girls in the Myanzi village who use tree leaves and old rugs during her menstrual period. When we talk of lack of pads to use during menstruation in Myanzi village, its understatement. The situation in Myanzi is chronic period poverty.

Kato a young boy narrated that his grandmother keeps on reprimanding his sisters for cutting off pieces of her mattress to be used for pads. Whenever he finds patched holes in the mattress, he knows that his three sisters are in their monthly periods.

“Some of the girls sleep with men like motorcycle riders to get money three thousand five hundred shillings for sanitary pads. Their parents can hardly afford their scholastic materials later sanitary pads. This exposes these young girls to HIV and STIs, unwanted teenage pregnancy with its associated consequences of dropping out of school, being forced into early marriages, getting fistula and social stigma,” narrated one teacher from St Noa Secondary School.

Under the AmplifyChange funded project “Fistula-Free Girls and Young Women” in Uganda, Sanyu Centre for Arts and Rights (SARI) and its partner Slum Youth Rehabilitation and Development Organisation (SYRADO) conducted menstrual health and hygiene management under the campaign of #PeriodFriendlyWorld. The campaign conducted during the menstrual hygiene week (27th to 31st May 2024) was led by SYRADO Uganda who reached over 170 girls and 80 boys in Mt Sinai Secondary School, St Noa Secondary School and Salvation Primary School. The campaign aimed at raising awareness on the need to support girls to have menstrual hygiene products as well as moral support from the males. The participants in the campaign included school heads and teachers, local leaders, media and civil society members. A call was made for menstrual hygiene products to be tax free so that they were affordable to the girls. Moreover, schools needed to have more supportive structures such as gender responsive bathrooms and clean water for girls to stay clean during menstruation.

Through activities including a band procession walking around the community with banners on promoting better menstrual health and hygiene management, skits, question and answers and practical demonstrations, the participatory campaign enabled learning and experience sharing among the girls, boys and community members.

Moreover, girls got more knowledge and practical skills on making and maintaining reusable pads. Girls were equipped with knowledge on washing and changing the pads using warm water and wearing them with clean underwear. They learnt that useable pads needed to be soaked in warm water with very little liquid soap in it. The girls learnt that they were rinsed in the following and hanged with moderate sunlight to dry in a clean environment.

Furthermore, girls and youth got more knowledge on some of the dangers of teenage pregnancies among which was obstetric fistula. Most of them had never had about fistula and how detrimental it was to their health and future. Obstetric fistula one of the most severe aftereffects of birth was largely because of prolonged childbirth with limited access to timely and quality health care. Educators, local leaders and parents saw the need to provide age friendly sexual reproductive health educations to young people, so they make wise decisions.

“I have learnt to value my body and myself. I don’t have to put myself in vulnerable situations that may expose me to getting unwanted pregnancies. Then again, I don’t want to expose myself to devastating health effects of early unwanted pregnancy such as fistula. I will encourage my fellow girls to hold their bodies in high esteem and keep away from wrong relationships that may destroy their lives.” Female student at St Noa Secondary school

“Staying in school is better than getting an unwanted early pregnancy. I now have the knowledge to make better health decisions for my life. I will pass on this information to my peers, so they don’t suffer such negative consequences.” Female student at St Noa Secondary school.

“Now I understand the kind of hardships go through during their monthly periods. I have stopped making fun of them. I will also encourage my fellow boys to stop stigmatizing girls during their periods.” Male student at St Sinai Secondary School.

“When I go back home, I will train my younger sisters and friends in my neighborhood on how to make reusable sanitary pads. This will help us to manage our periods better. We don’t have to miss school anymore or feel embarrassed during our periods.” Female student at Mt Sinai Secondary School.

Every girl deserves to have better menstrual health and hygiene management!