From Vision to Reality: Day 1

The first day of the program proved to be as hectic and stressful as I’d thought. That being said, it was the most fulfilling work day of my life. The program started bright and early this morning at 9 am, in our main assembly hall. Dennis, Charles, Millicent, and Carolina, our four amazing trainers from Days for Girls, lead a full day jam-packed with educational seminars, training sessions, and excitement.

Our day started with a three hour interactive education session in our main assembly hall with both the boys and the girls in grades six and up, which was roughly 200 students. The students learned and asked questions about the reproductive system, reproductive health, menstruation, personal hygiene, and puberty.

The Days for Girls trainers involved the students in demonstrations in front of the group, making the seminar fun and personable. Students were eager to participate and were interested in learning about the bodily changes the opposite sex faces as they grow older.

The students learned and asked questions about the reproductive system, reproductive health, menstruation, personal hygiene, hormonal balances, and puberty. Days for Girls did an amazing job leading this training session, teaching a comprehensive seminar that allowed the children and young adults to learn in-depth about the body and menstruation. My favorite part was that the boys were present to learn about female menstruation, and that a confident male trainer was teaching the portion on menstruation. My hope is that this will help to remove the stigma and embarrassment some young women face regarding their periods, and that the boys will come to understand that it is nothing but normal and that there is nothing to be grossed out about when discussing a woman’s period.

Following this program, we broke for lunch to gather more materials for later seminars. While the students in grades six and up took their break, we gathered the girls in grades 3-5 for their own mini seminar. These girls range in age from 8-11, some of whom have already gotten their periods but many of whom have not. We wanted to equip these young girls with the materials and resources they needed to face their periods either currently, or in the future. No girl should be at a loss with regards to how to handle her first period! We presented the contents of the Days for Girls kits to the young students: two super absorbent shields, 8 liners, a pair of underpants, a ziploc bag to store used pads, and a trendy bag to carry it all in.

The girls learned how to insert or remove extra liners into and from the pads, to account for differences in period flows. They were taught how to clean and take care of their new period kits, which will last them each 3-4 years.

The girls were overjoyed to receive their new kits, and loved that the bright colors on the pads and bags were fashionable and fun. They showed off their new kits to their friends, and walked around the school campus as confident as ever with their new bags and sanitary pads. Pictured below is Nayela, a 5th grade girl who told me that the bag gave her extra girl power!

‘

These 90 or so girls each received their own kit. Due to time restrictions with final exams, we were not able to teach the younger children how to sew the pads and liners. However, we did equip the school with an extra 75 or so kits for female students who get their first periods in the future and do not have a kit on hand. We also provided the school with additional materials that will allows any girls who’d like to make their pads the chance to.

Following the mini-program for the younger girls, we brought the older female students back in to learn how to sew their own sanitary pads! Over the course of roughly 3 hours, 100 girls between the ages of 12 and 16 worked with each other and the Days for Girls trainers to put together one of the sanitary pads that themselves will use.

Some of teachers in the school, both male and female, were also present to learn how to sew the pads. The school’s home economics teacher sat through the entire presentation and sewed a sanitary pad as well so that this skill may be passed down in the future as part of the curriculum. The pads, which are made up of three layers, were easy to create and are extremely durable.

The girls were so proud of themselves once they saw the final product. They were able to create something amazing, tangible, and useful that would continue to benefit them for the next three to four years, minimum. Additionally, they can teach their sisters, mothers, daughters, and friends how to make these sanitary pads so that they are self-reliant when they’re period comes. We not only equipped these girls with the materials to deal with their periods, but also taught them a valuable skill that will last them a lifetime. The final product is pictured below, along with the girls who made them.

After a successful first day, I am so proud of these young students. I am also extremely grateful for the Days for Girls team, which is doing and has continued to do an amazing job throughout the process. Tomorrow, we will continue with part two where the students will learn more about reproductive health and the female students will learn how to sew a liner.

Thank you again for donating, and please share this blog to encourage further donations! The GoFundMe will remain up for the duration of July and until I return home in early August. You’ve helped to make a tangible change in the lives of over 300 students, and for that, both they and I are grateful.

Best wishes from Ghana,

Jenna