Invest in Menstrual Health for girls and women

Thank you for donating to this project supporting menstrual health for girls and women.

In our last report, we were mid-way through the month of May which finishes with International Menstrual Health Day on the 28th. During the month workshops were delivered across Kericho county by trained ambassadors for the programme.  Since the start of the pandemic, 468 volunteers have trained as ambassadors and delivered workshops about sexual and reproductive health to 12,561 boys, girls, men and women in the community.

The workshops include sessions about – Growth and body changes – learning about puberty; Reproductive health – learning about the menstrual cycle, reproductive health systems and providing a safe space for participants to discuss related issues; Reusable sanitary kits – demonstration of reusable pads and how to make them using locally available materials; Challenges to menstrual health management – challenges facing girls and women include no access to sanitary pads or funds to purchase them, lack of emotional support and understanding, no access to water or soap, missing out on school and work every month and taboos within families and the communities around menstruation which cause further isolation and lack of support; Bracelet making - the menstruation bracelet is a global symbol for menstruation and a teaching tool with 28 sections made of beads or card to signify the menstrual cycle and Games and Sports are included as icebreakers and to highlight that periods shouldn’t hold back girls and women in what they can do during their periods once they have the knowledge and support to manage them.

These workshops help raise awareness about menstrual health and break down barriers so that periods move from being women’s business to community business.

At the end of May, Brighter Communities Worldwide were privileged to welcome the Irish Ambassador to Kenya, Ms Fionnuala Quinlan to Londiani to visit some of our projects. Her day finished with the participants at a celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day in Chebwor Primary school. During the day between 250 and 300 people had taken part in workshops marking their commitment to making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030.

If you would like to support this project again, this week your generosity can be stretch further as donations up to €50 will be matched at 50% by the GlobalGiving Little by Little campaign. The need is great and every single donation makes a difference. Thank you for your support.