Welcome to RUTNAK Pearl Development Foundation (RPDF)
Rutnak Pearl Development Foundation, Uganda (RPDF-Uganda) is a grassroots, women-led non-profit organisation committed to delivering inclusive and sustainable humanitarian and development services in Uganda’s refugee settlements and rural communities.
Founded by Nasasira Ruth, a passionate advocate for dignity and equity among marginalised populations, RPDF-Uganda prioritises community-driven interventions in Environmental Conservation, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), and Refugee Empowerment, with a cross-cutting focus on Menstrual Health Management (MHM). Operating primarily in Nakivale and Bidibidi Refugee Settlements, RPDF-Uganda addresses the immediate needs of displaced populations while implementing long-term strategies that build resilience, dignity, and self-reliance.
Our Mission
To empower and uplift communities in Africa through empowering vulnerable children, Youth & women to have equal opportunities in every sector, promoting gender economic equality growth, restoration and conservation of the environment.
Our Vision
We aspire to a world where all individuals, especially vulnerable children, youth & women, are empowered to break through the barrier of poverty.
We also believe that all humans are one family, and earth with all its resources is our home
Our Value
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Equity.
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Empathy.
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Compassion.
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Generosity.
Main Activities:
At RUTNAK Pearl Development Foundation (RPDF), our programs are designed to empower, educate, and inspire positive change among young people, especially the boy child. Our main activities include:
1. Menstrual Health Management (MHM) Education
- Conducting community outreach sessions and school-based workshops on menstrual health and hygiene
- Training female learners, teachers and parents on MHM to reduce stigma and misinformation
- Distributing educational materials on reproductive health in local languages.
2. Skills Training in Reusable Sanitary Pad Making.
- Teaching primary school girls, especially in under-resourced and refugee-hosting schools, how to make reusable sanitary pads
- Partnering with local tailors and women-led groups to support pad-making workshops
- Promoting eco-friendly practices by using locally available and safe materials
3. School-Based Interventions
Working directly with community primary schools in rural areas and refugee settlements to:
- Establish Menstrual Health Clubs.
- Train female teachers as mentors and MHM champions.
- Provide starter kits for pad-making and sewing machines.
4. Support to Refugee Settlements:
Active in Nakivale refugee settlement in western Uganda and Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in North West Uganda, collaborating with school administrations, UNHCR, and community leaders to:
- Reach refugee and host community girls with menstrual health education.
- Create safe spaces in schools for privacy and hygiene.
- Empower refugee women to participate in pad-making initiatives for income generation.