Studio Samuel Foundation is a nonprofit organization that serves girls in Ethiopia. Since its founding, Studio Samuel has empowered thousands of adolescent girls living in extreme poverty by equipping them with the education, life skills, and vocational training needed to stay in school and build safe, independent futures. Its flagship program, Training for Tomorrow, runs alongside formal schooling and offers a holistic curriculum that includes tutoring, mentorship, reproductive health education, digital literacy, martial arts, and career readiness. To date, the organization has helped more than 23,000 girls remain in school, and 95% of underserved students enrolled in the program have continued their education.
In Ethiopia, many girls miss school each month simply because they do not have access to menstrual supplies or accurate information about their reproductive health. Without basic resources or education, girls are often forced to use unsafe materials to manage their menstrual cycles, making it difficult to attend school. Falling behind academically puts them at risk of expulsion or dropping out altogether. As a result, many girls become more vulnerable to child marriage, trafficking, and gender-based violence.
With support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund, Studio Samuel will expand its Menstrual Health Management (MHM) program to directly reach 2,500 girls living in crisis zones, including refugee and displaced communities. Girls will receive reusable menstrual kits made by students in Studio Samuel’s sewing and vocational training classes. Each distribution is paired with peer-led health education sessions that normalize conversations around menstruation and debunk harmful myths. A group of Teen MHM Ambassadors will also be trained to lead workshops in schools and communities. To broaden access even further, Studio Samuel is developing a user-friendly MHM mobile app to provide accurate, culturally relevant information to more than 5,000 girls in its first year.
Studio Samuel’s menstrual health initiative is rooted in the belief that no girl should miss school, or be denied opportunity, because of her period. By combining vocational training, community outreach, and digital access, this project aims to break harmful stigmas and remove barriers to education for thousands of girls in Ethiopia. Ultimately, Studio Samuel is working toward a future where every girl has the knowledge, tools, and confidence to stay in school and shape her own future.
To learn more about Studio Samuel, please visit the organization’s website and social media pages:
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