Studio Samuel Launches Menstrual Health App to Combat School Absenteeism in Ethiopia
Studio Samuel's new Yewer Abeba app addresses menstrual health education in Ethiopia, where periods remain a leading cause of school absenteeism for girls, marking the organization's 10th anniversary with a student-led digital solution.
In its tenth anniversary year, Addis Ababa-based non-profit organization Studio Samuel is launching Yewer Abeba, a free menstrual health educational app created by girls for girls in Ethiopia. The app debuts on International Day of the Girl 2025, whose theme "The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis" aligns with students leading conversations on menstrual health and breaking stigma.
One student currently in Studio Samuel Girls Academy explained, "Periods used to mean I would miss class. With Yewer Abeba, I feel prepared. The girl I am is a student, and the change I lead is showing my sisters and classmates that we belong in school every day." The app represents a direct response to menstruation remaining one of the leading causes of school absenteeism for adolescent girls in Ethiopia.
Yewer Abeba, which means "Monthly Flower" in Amharic, is available for free download on Google Play beginning October 11, 2025, targeting the approximately 95% of mobile users in Ethiopia utilizing Android devices. The app features language accessibility covering Amharic, Tigrinya, Afaan Oromo, and English, with culturally relevant content designed with input from adolescent girls, educators, and health professionals.
The Yewer Abeba app is powered by https://makeadifference.tech and developed in collaboration with Studio Samuel Girls Academy students and licensed medical experts, with research support from Dr. Kathryn Geurts and Global Health students at Hamline University. Features include a period tracker, health resources, and a Kalkidan avatar based on Studio Samuel's menstrual health management ambassador.
Tamara Horton, Founder & Executive Director of Studio Samuel Girls Academy, remarked, "No girl should have her education disrupted by something as natural as her period. Our menstrual education app—created for girls, by girls and shaped with their families and medical experts—puts knowledge and dignity in their hands." The app requires no wifi access once downloaded and prioritizes user privacy by not collecting personal data, a feature requested by caregivers and parents.
This initiative builds on Studio Samuel Girls Academy's proven model of pairing education with health and skills training to ensure long-term empowerment. Since opening in 2015, the organization has impacted 25,000 girls with critical life skills through its Training for Tomorrow program and aims to reach one million girls by 2035. The vocational arm has been accredited as a college, with the Studio Samuel Institute of Design + Technology opening in October 2019 to 50 young women.
Studio Samuel will welcome opportunities from donors, corporations and global partners to join the movement to end period poverty and support education for girls across Africa. The organization recently rebranded as Studio Samuel Girls Academy to more clearly reflect its commitment to girls' education and empowerment during its 10th anniversary celebration.