In many regions of Africa, menstruation remains a taboo subject. It is often regarded as impure, dirty, or shameful, inevitably resulting in discriminatory and restrictive practices directed at women and girls who menstruate.
In some communities, women and girls are excluded from any social activity, such as participating in religious rituals, handling food, or interacting with men. Moreover, lack of education makes it difficult to access basic and adequate hygiene products, and due to the associated shame, some girls skip school during their menstrual periods.
Undoubtedly, this remains a concerning issue that goes against women’s nature.
At Cooperating Volunteers, with the intention of educating and, above all, supporting these girls, we have conducted a workshop to address this issue.
A few days ago, a workshop on reusable pads was held at Brilliant Brains School in Uganda. This activity was designed to teach girls about menstrual hygiene and provide them with practical skills to manufacture and use reusable pads.
The morning began with an introduction to menstrual hygiene, explaining what menstruation is and why it occurs. Addressing the stigmas and myths associated with menstruation and promoting the importance of menstrual hygiene for health and well-being.
Next, the reusable pads were made, guiding the girls through the manufacturing process using cotton fabric, waterproof plastic, and buttons.
Once made, the girls were taught how to care for and maintain the pads to ensure good hygiene and prolong their lifespan.
Finally, a question and answer session was opened for the girls to ask questions about menstruation, menstrual hygiene, and the use of reusable pads.
This workshop was made possible by the funding of a volunteer who covered all the materials for making the pads.
Sustainability is also crucial to meet different needs without compromising future generations, finding a balance between economic growth, environmental protection, and social welfare. And undoubtedly, it goes hand in hand with education, as it is important to be able to educate oneself to create a conscious and enduring future over time.
All these initiatives indicate that we are on the right path, and we are striving to see changes that take into account the rights of all individuals in society.