Boy Join Girls To Learn How To Make Reusable Menstrual Pads In Karamoja | No more rags or sitting on sand during menstruation
Highlight: In addition to attaining knowledge about menstrual hygiene, the club members – both boys and girls, are taught how to make reusable pads using locally available materials. The pads are then distributed to the girls – three each – especially, those who can’t afford to buy any. These pads have liberated many girls.
For the boys in Alakas Primary School, menstruation matters!
Supporting girls to stay and complete school
In the Karamoja sub-region, North Eastern Uganda, men and boys don’t openly talk about menstruation. It is a taboo. While girls in this community are isolated during their menstrual cycle until is over. However, this is no longer the case in Alakas Primary School, where Straight Talk Foundation, has sensitized boys about menstruation, hygiene and the need for them to support girls during their menstrual cycles. This valuable information that has changed the lives of many girls, is passed on through school clubs, supported by UNICEF with financial assistance from Irish Aid. Thanks to the school clubs, girls now feel safe at schools with boys as their allies.
About the school club activities
In addition to attaining knowledge about menstrual hygiene, the club members – both boys and girls, are taught how to make reusable pads using locally available materials. The pads are then distributed to the girls – three each – especially, those who can’t afford to buy any. These pads have liberated many girls.
Every week, the members meet to talk about a number of things including making extra reusable pads. The boys are involved in cutting the pads to size and are very happy to help.
Before stitching is done, the team members stuff the cloth with cotton wool – the boys are active and know what to do. They have learnt the skills through their clubs with support from their senior women teachers. The activity is as important as any other club activity.
They support in stitching the pads together and add strings to the pads as the final step.
In the Karamoja sub-region, North Eastern Uganda, men and boys don’t openly talk about menstruation. It is a taboo. While girls in this community are isolated during their menstrual cycle until is over. However, this is no longer the case in Alakas Primary School, where Straight Talk Foundation, has sensitized boys about menstruation, hygiene and the need for them to support girls during their menstrual cycles. This valuable information that has changed the lives of many girls, is passed on through school clubs, supported by UNICEF with financial assistance from Irish Aid. Thanks to the school clubs, girls now feel safe at schools with boys as their allies.
About the school club activities
In addition to attaining knowledge about menstrual hygiene, the club members – both boys and girls, are taught how to make reusable pads using locally available materials. The pads are then distributed to the girls – three each – especially, those who can’t afford to buy any. These pads have liberated many girls.
Every week, the members meet to talk about a number of things including making extra reusable pads. The boys are involved in cutting the pads to size and are very happy to help.
Before stitching is done, the team members stuff the cloth with cotton wool – the boys are active and know what to do. They have learnt the skills through their clubs with support from their senior women teachers. The activity is as important as any other club activity.
They support in stitching the pads together and add strings to the pads as the final step.
In class, the boys are not shy to help a girl or girls who have soiled their uniforms. “It is no longer a laughing matter. When I see a girl who has soiled her dress, I quickly give her my sweater to cover up and direct her where to go – the changing room to clean up and who to talk to – the senior women teacher.” As club members, we also sensitize all the other pupils especially those in upper classes to support the girls instead of laughing at them,” Lotuu continues
Back home, the boys also teach their sisters how to make the reusable pads. “I don’t want to my friends and sisters to stay out of school for many days because of menstruation. I want them to learn.”
The school club members also traverse communities to sensitize parents, caregivers about reusable pads and the fact that their daughters shouldn’t miss school because of menstruation. They teach them how to make the pads as well as distribute pads to girls who had previously dropped out because they didn’t have any. Many girls have since returned to school.
Through the clubs, schools have provided the girls with special rooms which they utilize to bathe and change their sanitary towels as and when they need to. They don’t have to go back home for this. The boys support with collecting the water as well as ensure the rooms have extra reusable pads in case anyone needs one. they work as a team.
Source: unicef.org
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