Young education activists speak out on normalizing menstrual health

Menstruation deeply affects girls’ attendance and participation in school, globally. That’s why GPE youth leaders ring the alarm on the importance of leveraging education to improve menstrual hygiene for all girls, as the connections between menstrual health, gender equality and education are very strong.

May 26, 2023 by GPE Secretariat
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6 minutes read
A student in her classroom in Murape Primary School in Zimbabwe. Credit: GPE/ Carine Durand
A student in her classroom in Murape Primary School in Zimbabwe.
Credit: GPE / Carine Durand

On 26 March 2023, GPE and Girls Not Brides organized a webinar to highlight the connections between menstrual hygiene, gender equality, child marriage and education in recognition of Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28.

As part of GPE activities on that day, 3 GPE youth leaders share their perspectives on the links between education, gender equality and menstrual health, and the importance of leveraging education to improve menstrual hygiene for all girls.

Maria José

Maria José is a 28-year-old GPE youth leader from Guatemala where she advocates for human rights for people with disabilities. She is also part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) youth advisory group in Guatemala. She collaborates with "Miss Wheelchair Guatemala." Maria José firmly believes that sport is a tool to create a better world and empower people to exercise their rights. She likes to describe herself as an unstoppable dreamer and education fighter.

Tendai

Tendai is a 22-year-old GPE youth leader from Zimbabwe. She is a dynamic young leader who is passionate about advancing the leadership of girls and young women in sexual health and reproductive health rights (SRHR), HIV prevention, gender equality and education. She is the co-founder of the Development Agenda for Girls and Women in Africa Network. Tendai is also part of Generation Unlimited’s Young People's Action Team (YPAT).

Sovanvotey (Votey)

Sovanvotey (Votey) is a 27-year-old GPE youth leader and Cambodian menstrual health and climate activist. She is the founder of Green Lady Cambodia, which launched the Menstrual Health Classroom to talk about period shaming, menstrual health awareness and choices for girls in public school classrooms. Through these activities, she introduces conversations around SRHR, comprehensive sexuality education) and harmful gender norms. She believes in improving quality of life skills in an unconventional way, as it is the key to a better future for all.

What are some challenges linked to menstrual hygiene and girls’ education in your work and community?

Tendai
“Lack of preparation, knowledge and poor hygiene practices during menstruation has a negative impact on girls' self-esteem and personal development, which then impacts girls’ education. The absence of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities has also led to the spread of infections among adolescent girls and young women, which is more prevalent in rural areas with a water crisis. Girls sometimes miss school due to menstrual cramps and they find it hard to catch up. Some girls I work with have mentioned missing at least 7 hours of classroom time per month–a total of 63 hours per school year.”
Tendai
Maria Jose
“Menstruation is something natural that happens to all women, but it becomes a challenge when they cannot manage it– often the case for women and girls with disabilities. Menstruating girls and women with disabilities may have different needs depending on the disabling condition they experience. For example, girls and women with physical impairments in the upper body and arms may have difficulty putting on intimate hygiene items, washing themselves or washing clothes Those who are visually impaired may have difficulty checking whether they have cleaned themselves well. Those with intellectual or cognitive impairments may need accessible, easy-to-read materials designed to help them communicate pain, report needs and learn about menstrual health and hygiene. Another aspect to consider as a challenge is the lack of both education and accessible information for people with disabilities in simple language and materials in digital format that share the universal design of accessibility for people with disabilities.”
Maria Jose
Votey
“I often work with girls who have trouble managing their menstrual hygiene materials due to lack of education. It is a big challenge I see often. For example, a 13-year-old student I worked with in one of my classes on sewing washable pads had issues properly drying her sanitary materials. With just a short 15-minute conversation, I was able to give her the necessary towels, more washable pads and to guide her on taking care of her own hygiene especially during her periods. From there, she also opened up about other related challenges and I was able to direct her on how to speak with her guardian about the issue.”
Votey

How do you advocate for girls’ menstrual hygiene and improved social norms around gender equality and girls’ education?

Maria Jose
“My actions are focused on the empowerment of people with disabilities with knowledge about their rights. This includes sexual and reproductive rights and the guarantees that must be demanded. In this regard, it is important to inform and raise awareness among people with disabilities and society that health and menstrual hygiene should not be a taboo or a myth for anyone, especially for people with disabilities.”
Maria Jose
Tendai
“In my work I focus on facilitating digital conversations with adolescent girls and young women on what works, what does not work, myths and facts when it comes to menstrual health management and knowledge sharing discussions on better menstrual hygiene products to use. I want girls and young women to implement and lead menstrual hygiene campaigns, which should focus on making sure there are enough and better WASH facilities, as well as affordable products in schools to improve the attendance of girls and young women from poor communities.”
Tendai
Votey
“The Regional Report on Menstrual Health in Asia and the Pacific states that dispelling the stigma and taboos surrounding menstruation remains the key to advancing girls’ rights and progress at all levels. Through Green Lady Cambodia, I collaborate with NGOs and the Ministry of Education to reach adolescent girls in public schools and provide menstrual health trainings, sewing washable pad workshops, training of peer educators and resources such as books and videos. We also connect with international partners such as UNFPA, to accelerate the progress on advancing menstruation matters locally and to raise awareness.”
Votey

What are solutions that you think can be adopted more widely to support girls’ menstrual health?

Votey
“More interventions are needed to highlight and prioritize menstrual health. Governments need to allocate financial resources to tackle the problems. For example, we still do not have enough facilities for girls on their periods. We also need more young people in the room to address curriculum gaps. It is important for youth to be involved in curriculum development to ensure comprehensive conversations about menstrual hygiene, sexual and reproductive rights and gender, especially in public schools.”
Votey
Maria Jose
“We need to ensure that girls and women with disabilities are included toe generate evidence and learn about health and menstrual hygiene. Girls and young women should be included in working groups and roundtables on health and menstrual hygiene as well as the offices and entities that work for the protection of the rights of children and women with disabilities. Governments and other actors should train health, education and WASH professionals to communicate with girls and women with disabilities about menstrual health and hygiene; and introduce modules for disabled people in school facilities on health and menstrual hygiene. Talk about stigma and discrimination, and empower family members to help girls with disabilities manage their periods safely and with dignity. Create protocols that include provisions related to gender and disability and ensure they are accessible and easy to read. Governments should also increase investment in education and health targeted at menstrual hygiene and ensure that people with disabilities are included.”
Maria Jose
Tendai
“We need to encourage conversations with men, women and religious leaders about menstrual health. These will help break the taboo and stigma around menstrual health. Also amplify campaigns for menstrual health materials such as “pad a girl”.
Tendai
Gender equality, School health and nutrition

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