Improving menstrual health in schoolgirls...

Our Impact Girls work has a number of components, but perhaps the most impactful is our work to ensure that young girls don’t miss out on school when they get their period. This week’s email comes from Elida Banda and Busiwa Namwila, our Projects Team, on this aspect of our work. Thank you!

“Improving menstrual health in schoolgirls can lead to long-lasting effects on women’s overall education, health and wellbeing” Helen Weiss

For the last several years, Impact Network has been conducting menstrual health and hygiene training for grade 5, 6 and 7 female pupils in our Katete schools. This year, we were excited to extend this program to 30 schools across all of four of the districts we work in. The main aim of this training was to create awareness among the girls about menstruation, which is a normal process of a girl’s life and should not attract feelings of shame. The training covers what menstruation is, when it starts, what to use and how to use and clean their menstrual pads. The girls were guided on how to cut and sew the various fabrics needed (chitenge, waterproof fabric, and fleece), and how to add a button or snap. This ensured that girls learned how to do it themselves, could do it again in the future, and could pass on the skill to others. In addition, they made a small drying bag that allows for discreet drying in the sun.

Between the months of August to November 2023, 839 girls created 3 pads each, 2517 reusable pads in total!

Tasila Banda one of the project’s beneficiaries had this to say about the experience: “I am very happy that I have learnt how to make pads that I can wash and reuse. I also have a bag that I will use to dry my sanitary materials without the shame that my brothers and other boys will clearly see what I have hang on the line. Thank you, Impact Network, for this opportunity!”

We love that creating pads contributes to improved confidence and school attendance. It’s a great privilege to be able to put a smile on the faces of our girls as we work to end period poverty.

-Elida and Busiwa