A variety of efforts have been made to get more girls in school in the developing world, from waiving school fees to offering parents incentives to bring their daughters to school.

One simple obstacle, though, often prevents girls from staying in school — their menstrual cycle. Many girls stay home while menstruating, missing critical education every month and even dropping out.

In Kenya, a project has been working to donate sanitary pads to girls in two of Nairobi's poorest slums. Michael Kaloki reports.

And in South Africa, Paul Kromhout discusses the success of the Protecting Futures Initiative in South Africa, which educates girls about their menstrual cycle and provides them with resources to help keep them in school.

Music for this show ...