What seemed like an almost impossible feat was once again brought to actualization by the Caring For Girls With Period Initiatives’ Power Team. On May 22nd and 23rd , 2024, we engaged with students from The Girls With Period School Club—a program pioneered by GWP to enhance students’ knowledge and confidence in areas including self-esteem, sex education, and menstrual hygiene.
Our school club outreach took us to Liham College, West View College, Prime Dathon College, Eben Noble College, Western College, Dothan Comprehensive College, Branded College, Thonyx Immaculate Schools, and others. These schools were specifically chosen as they are active members of the “Girls with Period School Club. To maximize our impact, our team was divided into two groups:
Team 1:
– Lisa; Programs Manager
– Irene; Admin Executive
– Kelechi; Media Team
– Simisola; Media Team
Team 2:
– Patience; Volunteer Team Lead
– Jennifer; Operations Intern
– Blessing; Media Team Lead
– Benita; Media Team
Despite the heavy rain on Day 1, all team members gathered at Liham College, Iwaya by 7:30 am. The weather posed significant challenges, but our commitment remained steadfast. At Liham School, Lisa enlightened approximately 60 girls about Menstrual Hygiene Day, its significance, and the importance of maintaining good menstrual hygiene.
A highlight of the session was the pad demonstration, where two students demonstrated how to properly wear and dispose of pads. One student revealed that she typically disposed of pads by tearing them apart and flushing the cotton wool down the toilet, which surprised everyone. Lisa advised against this practice and demonstrated the correct disposal method.
Meanwhile, Team 2 headed to Eben Noble College, Shomolu for their first outreach of the day. We concluded the session at Liham College with a Q&A session and distributed school club ribbons and cartons of sanitary pads for emergency use.
After Liham, Team 1 moved to West View College in Makoko by 9:43 am, while Team 2 wrapped up their session at Eben Noble College, where they reached 45 girls. Patience’s team provided a talk on hygiene practices during menstruation, with Jennifer conducting the pad demonstration and Blessing and Benita handling interviews.
At 11:00 am, Team 1 began a lecture at West View College on when to see a doctor for menstrual concerns. To make the session interactive, Lisa asked students to suggest reasons for consulting a doctor. The students responded enthusiastically, with answers such as missing periods for three consecutive months, experiencing severe cramps, prolonged menstruation, and unusual discharge.
Simultaneously, Team 2 was at Thonyx Immaculate Schools in Bariga, where they lectured over 150 girls on the benefits of good menstrual hygiene. Patience emphasized avoiding painkillers unless prescribed by a physician and suggested alternative remedies for cramps, such as exercise, consuming fruits like pawpaw, and using hot water bottles. The session ended with a Q&A followed by interviews.
At 1:15 pm, Team 1 reached Prime Dalton College, Abule-Oja while Team 2 proceeded to Western College, Onike. Both teams conducted sessions on menstrual health, proper pad usage and disposal, and facilitated Q&A sessions. Students were selected to share period facts, and were rewarded with school club ribbons.
By the end of Day 1, our outreach had successfully impacted over 400 girls across multiple schools, spreading crucial knowledge and fostering a supportive environment for discussing menstrual health.
On the second day of our Menstrual Hygiene Day Marathon, our outreach efforts commenced at Branded College in Oyingbo. Both teams were present, ready to continue our mission with renewed enthusiasm and a more streamlined approach.
At Branded College, two exceptional students delivered insightful presentations on menstrual hygiene and the significance of Menstrual Hygiene Day (MHD) highlighting their growing awareness and willingness to advocate for better menstrual hygiene practices among their peers.
Our team conducted a detailed pad demonstration and presented a lecture on when to see a doctor for menstrual issues. The session was both engaging and well-received by the students. A key moment during the session was when a student asked what to do if the doctor attending to her during a check-up is male. We encouraged the students to view doctors as professionals dedicated to their health and well-being, regardless of gender. We also emphasized that they should only be concerned if a doctor asks inappropriate questions or engages in inappropriate behaviour. This discussion significantly boosted the students’ confidence in seeking medical care. We reached out to 70 girls.
By 9:30 am, four team members set off for Dothan Comprehensive College in Ikorodu, while the remaining members focused on other schools in the club. The journey involved taking a BRT bus, followed by two additional buses and a motorcycle ride. Although we encountered a minor setback due to the need for Cowry cards (prerequisites for using the BRT), we swiftly resolved the issue and continued our journey.
Upon arrival at Dothan Comprehensive College, we adhered to our well-established outreach routine: delivering educational lectures, conducting pad demonstrations, and facilitating Q&A sessions and interviews. The students at Dothan were enthusiastic and highly engaged, making the session particularly productive.
We reached over 70 girls discussing critical topics such as proper menstrual hygiene practices, recognizing signs that warrant a doctor’s visit, and dispelling common myths and misconceptions about menstruation. The interactive nature of the session allowed students to freely ask questions and share their experiences, fostering a supportive and informative environment.
Our two-day outreach marathon successfully reached over 700 students across ten schools, significantly raising awareness about menstrual hygiene and empowering young girls with the knowledge they need to manage their menstrual health confidently. Despite the logistical challenges and the demanding schedule, our team’s dedication and resilience ensured that each session was impactful and informative.
Conclusion
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our team members, volunteers, donors and supporters who made this Menstrual Hygiene Day Marathon a resounding success. Your dedication and contributions have helped create a world where menstrual hygiene is prioritized, and every girl is empowered with the knowledge and resources she needs. As we reflect on the success of our outreach, we look forward to continuing our efforts to educate and empower more young girls. Thank you for being part of this important journey. Stay tuned for more updates and stories from our Menstrual Hygiene Day events.
The Caring For Girls with Period Initiative educates underprivileged women and girls about menstrual hygiene, sex education, importance of education, and family planning amongst others. We've reached 30,000+ individuals and aim to end period poverty in Africa.
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