Day 2

On day 2, we jumped right back into the education seminars in the morning. With the boys and girls from grades six and up together, we wrapped up yesterdays's training with a two-hour interactive session on sexually transmitted diseases, non-sexually transmitted diseases, the effects on the body of poor hygiene, consent education, and sexual assault awareness education. The students were challenged to think outside the box regarding the types of sexual abuse that exist around the world, and asked many clarifying questions regarding sexual assault.

Dennis, the trainer in blue pictured above, made clear to the students that atrocities such as rape can happen to both men and women. He also made clear that men and women can both be assailants, and that it is important not to characterize rape as a women's issue always perpetrated by men. During the portion on sexually transmitted diseases, I was delighted to see students taking notes on what they were being taught without being told to do so. They were proactive in their learning, and encouraged to ask any questions they have had regarding the topic.

At the end of the seminar, the students were given the chance to ask any questions they may have had over the course of the two-day training. They were each given a small piece of paper as well so that if any of them wanted to ask questions without being identified, they could preserve their anonymity. Both the girls and boys asked many questions, mainly pertaining to STIs and menstruation. The kids were extremely intelligent, thoughtful, and engaged, and this reflected in the types of questions they posed.

Following this part of the program, we will let the boys go so that we could continue teaching the girls how to sew their own menstrual pads and liners. The girls finished up their sanitary pads from the day prior, showing off their final products equipped with the buttons they needed to lock the pad in place in their underwear.

Once the girls were finished with their pads, we moved onto the liners. The liners were essentially two pieces of flannel fabric that folded into a three-layer sheet to be inserted into the pad. These liners were extremely easy to sew, with most girls finishing them within an hour.

The pockets on each side of the pad allow for the liners to be inserted into the shield and insure that they will move with the girls as they move. One shield can fit as many as four liners in a pad, providing up to 12 additional layers of protection for girls with a heavier flow. This means that the pads will last longer throughout the day, allowing girls to leave class less often out of fear of checking for leakages. Pictured below is an example of how the liners fit into the pads.

Once the girls finished the liners, inserted them into their pads, and added buttons to the pads, they each showed off what they made with pride. What took them only a few hours to make would be something that would last all of them until they graduated junior high school and possibly even senior high school.

One of the trainers, Charles, then took to the time to show the girls exactly how to wash, wear, and take care of the shields and liners. He went through the contents of the kit, taking out each item they were given and giving detailed instructions on how exactly to make use of them.

Once he finished, he put on the underpants over his own trousers not only to give the girls a good laugh, but to really demonstrate how well the pad and liners would stay in place. He danced, jumped, walked, and exercised in front of the girls so that they could understand just how durable these products were, and how proud of themselves they should all be for making them.

The girls each received their own kits, equipped with a draw-string bag, 7 liners, one ziploc bag, a pair of underpants, and 1 shield. They received one less liner and one less shield in the bag because they made their own shield and liner, which they were able to keep. The trainers also went around and insured that the products the girls made were just as durable as the ones that came pre-made in the bag.

Some of the older girls were kind enough to speak with one of the trainers regarding their individual experiences with their periods, both at home and at school. They each provided valuable information to the organization on how they can better approach their work and reach more young women around Africa and the world. The trainers also led an anonymous survey with the girls where they inquired about their experiences with their periods, any stigma they may have felt because of it, the program they participated in, and their satisfaction with the quality of the products they created and received.

At the end of the program, so many of the girls went up to the trainers and individually thanked them, and to my surprise, thanked me as well. I was so proud of each and every one of them for sewing their own pads and liners, and I was proud of all of the students for taking part so willingly in this program. With over 100 kits left over, we were able to provide kits for many of the teachers who were unable to afford menstrual pads for themselves or their daughters. The school will be left with an extra 80 or so kits to be placed in the nurse's office so that girls in the future who receive their first periods at school may be equipped with the resources they need to handle it.

With the trainers ready to head back to Accra, we took one last photo to commemorate the program. I thanked them deeply for their ability to partner with me in making this vision a reality, and for devoting their lives to bettering the lives of young women across West Africa. Again, I would to thank everyone who donated to this campaign and who supported these me throughout this process. You've helped to create tangible change in the lives of hundreds of young blossoming adults, and for that I am extremely grateful. If you'd like to continue to donate, the GoFundMe page will remain open for the rest of July, after which the remaining money will be donated to Voices of African Mothers and the John William Montessori School to ensure the future of this program and of their young female students.

Best,

Jenna