Helping young girls stay in school through MHM
WHY?
Menstrual hygiene management is an essential aspect of health for all women and adolescent girls. However, it is a considerable challenge in sub-Saharan African countries like Cameroon. The Northern regions of Cameroon are the poorest regions in the country, with over 70% of the population living below the poverty line. Insecurity issues linked with the Boko Haram terrorist group have led to fewer opportunities and overall harsh times for young girls and women living in these areas. The taboos and stigmas attached to menstruation lead to an overall culture of silence around the topic, resulting in limited information on menstruation and menstrual hygiene. This causes considerable psychological trauma for the girls as they may not understand the happenings in their bodies and have no one to ask. In many cultures, menstruating women are considered impure and excluded from participating in everyday activities, such as education, employment, and cultural and religious practices. In an area where poverty is the norm, period poverty is not a surprise. Most menstruating girls and women in the North of Cameroon do not have access to menstrual products and good hygiene facilities for use during their menstruating days. They resort to unhealthy palliatives such as using old and unclean clothing, toilet paper, and even leaves of trees to help themselves during what should be a peaceful period of their lives every month. In areas like this, promoting menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is not only a sanitation matter; it is also an important step towards safeguarding the dignity, bodily integrity, and overall life opportunities of women and girls.
HOW?
TRAINING WORKSHOPS ON MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT
We partner with health professionals and local authorities to organize training workshops to educate young girls on the menstrual cycle, and how to maintain good menstrual hygiene. Topics taught include but are not limited to:
My body and me
The menstrual cycle
Menstrual hygiene basics
Types of menstrual protections
Menstrual taboos and other "strange" menstrual happenings
DISTRIBUTION OF MENSTRUAL PROTECTIONS AND KITS
We distribute menstrual hygiene protections and accessories such as soaps, detergents, pants to underprivileged girls. This is done through funds of the organization as well as donor contributions. Beneficiaries are selected based on need and age. Sometimes we partner with sister organizations such as sista4sista in educating and distributing menstrual protections.
TRAINING ON PRODUCTION OF REUSABLE MENSTRUAL PADS
By distributing commercial menstrual pads to young girls in need we are equipping them for a few months of stress-free menstruation. However, it is not the most sustainable approach as the pads supplied may only last for a few months and the girls will remain dependent on external aid to manage their periods.
In the quest for a more sustainable solution, Garizim Foundation has resorted to training young girls on the production of washable and reusable menstrual pads in the three regions of the North region of Cameroon. Starting this year, we will be partnering with the Cho Ngafor Foundation to train 30 girls on the handy production of reusable washable menstrual protections.
ACHIEVEMENT STATS
405
PARTICIPANTS AND BENEFICIARIES
1304
MENSTRUAL PROTECTION PACKS AND ACCESSORIES
