Invest in Menstrual Health for girls and women

Thank you for your generous support of this project ensuring that education and awareness about menstrual health is delivered to girls and boys, men and women through schools and community based workshops. 

Globally, we have just marked the International Day of the Girl Child and in Kenya we celebrated with event bringing two schools together - Kapkwen Secondary and Tuma Academy, in Kipkelion West. The theme this year was “The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontline of crisis”. Through facilitated workshops, girls explored the challenges they face including early marriage, gender based violence and female genital mutilation.

The learned about menstrual health and reusable sanitary pads and how to make their own and be able to manage their periods independently.  Reusable pads can be made from old cotton fabric e.g. t-shirts and made to suit individual needs and sizes. Realising there is an alternative to staying at home when menstruating due to lack of pads is a game changer for girls.  It helps ensure they stay in school and finish their education.

The day included games and songs to celebrate being a girl and exploring all there is to be proud of as a girl.

Menstrual Health is a part of our Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) programme and delivered by volunteer ambassadors through schools and in the community. Judith Chemutai is one of these ambassadors and she says ““Being an SRHR Ambassador we have the right information to be able to create awareness on Sexual Reproductive Health and rights to our girls and women in our society who will also educate others. This will create a ripple effect that will amplify the impact of knowledge dissemination. I am so grateful for the opportunity of being trained as a SRHR Ambassador”

Judith ensures that in every meeting, they discuss and learn at least one topic on SRHR so as to change the lives of many people in the society especially those whose rights have been violated by harmful tradition.

We believe that menstrual health and sexual & reproductive health is more than ‘women’s business’ – it is everyone’s business! 

Thank you for your generous support of this project investing in Menstrual Health for girls and women.

Menstrual Hygiene Day takes place every year on May 28th. More than just a day, it is a movement where individuals and organisations can join a global conversation and speak out for a more period-friendly world, working to eliminate the inequalities caused by stigma and taboos.

The Menstrual Hygiene Day movement now unites behind one long-term mission: Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld. It is a call to action for all of us to ensure that menstruation is no longer a barrier and that access to menstrual products and sexual and reproductive education is a right, not a privilege.

We will mark this day by gathering students together from 20 schools across Kericho county for workshops on menstrual health, sexual and reproductive health, learning how to make reusable sanitary pads, games, exhibits and each school will entertain following the Menstrual Health theme.

Two of the key staff members involved in planning and implementing this day are Sonia Cheruto and Judith Chelanga. Both are co-ordinators of the Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights programme and work with community education and schools and youth.

Sonia & Judy recently wrote a blog about their work where they share insights into the challenges girls and women face and the Brighter Communities Worldwide response.

“These workshops create a safe space where participants can discuss menstruation and focus on the fact that it is a normal biological process. Local community members train as ambassadors to deliver workshops and expand the programme. This helps dispel myths and taboos across the community. We advocate for reusable sanitary towels since they are cheap, and can be made using locally available materials and are environmentally friendly.”

To read the full blog scroll down and click the link below. 

To watch staff member Veronica Chelangat Chuma demonstrate how to make a reusable sanitary pads from scratch scroll down and click the link below. 

Thanks again for your support in creating a more #PeriodFriendlyWorld!

Links:

• Sonia and Judith's Menstrual Health Blog
• Veronica demonstrating how to make reusable sanitary pads