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Reusable menstrual pads: giving period dignity to adolescent girls in Rwanda
More than 13,000 early and unintended adolescent pregnancies were reported in Rwanda between July and December 2022.
Period poverty is a major contributor to adolescent pregnancies; with many parents unable to provide a menstrual pad for their girls, become vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation.
For young girls, menstruation is a pivotal moment in their lives but with insufficient information, it can be worrying and frightening, marred with confusion and shame. UNESCO recognizes the challenges young people face and, promoting quality education for all, the organization is at the forefront of a time of change in Rwanda, working with the government, NGO’s and civil societies in advocating for education for health and wellbeing.
The Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future Programme (O3) is currently being implemented in Rwanda. Its objective is to empower adolescents and young people to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes they need to prevent HIV infections, reduce early and unintended pregnancies, and eliminate gender-based violence.
Menstruation is a health and educational policy concern and one of the initiatives of the O3 Programme is to raise awareness and provide support to adolescent girls to enable them to effectively manage their menstrual hygiene. In partnership with Aburugwiro Women’s Development Organization (AWDO), UNESCO organized a sensitization forum on 4 May 2023 for Saint Elizabeth School in Nyamiyaga, Rwanda. 500 young boys and girls were educated on life skills and reproductive health.
A senior student also stated:
My mother had advised me to use pieces of clothes because she could not afford the cost of standard pads every month. I am grateful for the donation.
During the forum, girls were given a bag containing ten reusable pads, MAHUMBEZI, pads sewed by girls for girls. AWDO has been training girls to sew reusable menstrual pads from readily available materials. In addition, they educate them on how to take care of the pads so they can last for at least three years; if properly washed, dried, ironed and stored in clean places.
It becomes a burden for some mothers with three girls to access sanitary pads for her and children. We thought of MAHUMBEZI as a durable solution for people with inadequate means (...) we will also continue to conduct advocacy to extend the support to more girls as beneficiaries have told us that they came in handy.
