Our Story
Our story didn’t begin with a grand plan. It began in the quiet, in-between moments on long drives between parks and cities in Kenya.
Simon was Ariela and Alec's guide in Kenya, and somewhere along the journey, we became friends. What started with lighthearted chatter about music slowly unfolded into deeper conversations about the paths that shaped us, and we discovered a shared thread: Ariela and Simon’s mothers.
Two women raised in completely different worlds: one in London, the other near the Masai Mara. Their lives were worlds apart, but they shared the same dream: to finish high school. For reasons beyond their control, neither of them could.
All three of us were fortunate to complete not only high school but university too. We understand the blessings that access has given us: confidence, independence, and the freedom to imagine a future on our own terms.
Having grown up in a traditional Maasai Manyatta, Simon explained that many girls in Kenya who also dream of finishing school, don’t get that chance. One of the silent yet preventable barriers stealing their future? lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, forcing girls to improvise with materials like old cloth, mattress stuffing, paper, leaves, or even mud. Uncomfortable, dangerous, and unreliable aternatives that make it near-impossible for girls to attend school during their periods.
Over time, missed days become missed weeks. Missed weeks become falling behind. Eventually, many girls leave school altogether.
Moreover, early signs of puberty increase vulnerability to exploitation and early pregnancy, further limiting girls' abilities to stay in school.
Sitting on a balcony in Nakuru, reflecting on everything we had learned, something shifted. This was no longer just a conversation. It was a responsibility we all felt. Together, we decided to start small, but start with purpose: to provide girls with access to menstrual products so they can attend school with confidence and dignity. But that is only the beginning. Our broader vision is to support girls beyond staying in school, but in finishing it; carrying forward the dream that our mothers once had.
The Naisula Collective was created not as a solution imposed from the outside, but as a collaboration rooted in friendship, shared values, and lived understanding. Simon’s perspective and connection to his community guide every step we take.
This work is deeply personal to us. It is a way of honoring where we come from, while investing in where others can go.