Bank of Kigali Plc (BK) has entered a partnership with a non-profit organisation, ‘I Matter Initiative,’ to fight period poverty and the stigma attached to menstruation by advancing and promoting gender rights and equality in Rwanda.

‘I Matter Initiative,’ which is led by youth to empower young girls, has been working with young women in different communities across the country at the village level since 2019, intending to end period of poverty in Rwanda, through service, awareness, and advocacy.

The six-month partnership which is worth Rwf 16,760,000 was inked on Thursday, July 28 at BK headquarters.

Emmanuel Nkusi Batanage, Head of Corporate Affairs at BK, revealed that the bank, after considering the progress that has been made by the initiative, decided to join hands with them.

Emmanuel Nkusi Batanage, Head of Corporate Affairs at Bank of Kigali speaks during the event in Kigali on July 28. Dan Nsengiyumva

In addition, he pointed out that the partnership will impact more young girls by providing them with equal rights to menstrual hygiene supplies while creating a community of girls and women confident and aware of sexual reproductive health and rights-related issues.

‘‘We are very delighted to partner with the I Matter Initiative for this positive cause. We believe that women empowerment is a key pillar in the development of our communities, and every young girl deserves a right to healthy menstrual hygiene supplies to eradicate period poverty,” he said.

Speaking on the same occasion, Divine Ingabire, I Matter Initiative Executive Director commended BK for trusting and helping them through their journey.

Divine Ingabire, I Matter Initiative Executive Director speaks about the impact of Bank of Kigali's partnnership with the organization. Dan Nsengiyumva

"On behalf of the I Matter Initiative, I would like to express my gratitude to the leadership and dedicated team of BK, for their trust in our vision, investment in Rwandan girls’ life transformation, and their voice added to ours to break the silence about girls and women's sanitary needs,” she said.

In addition, she said the signing marks another opportunity for them to celebrate their partnership with BK enabling a life transformation for 1500 girls with free access to period protection products that they have not been able to afford.

During the six months, the I Matter Initiative will carry out school visits and will be donating sanitary products. Items included in the donation package include pads, underwear, and sanitary soap.

BK is the largest commercial bank in Rwanda, by total assets and has been recently awarded "Best Bank in Rwanda 2022” by Global Finance.

Bank of Kigali staff pose for a group photo with I Matter Initiative officials during the event. The six-month partnership which is worth Rwf 16,760,000 was inked on Thursday, July 28 at BK headquarters.

I Matter initiative want to fight period poverty and the stigma attached to menstruation by advancing and promoting gender rights and equality in Rwanda.

Members of I Matter initiative during the event