- (647) 370-4113
- hello@gncanada.ca
Good Neighbours Canada (GNCA), in partnership with Good Neighbours Cameroon (GNCMR) and with the financial support of Global Affairs Canada, continues to make progress in its commitment to empower women and girls in rural Mehé, Cameroon through menstrual health and sexual reproductive health education.
During earlier stages of the project, women and girls shared that limited access to water made it difficult to properly wash and care for the reusable pads they had received. Many girls also miss school during their periods due to fear, discomfort, and stigma, making it difficult to manage menstruation safely and with dignity. Their feedback guided the next phase of work, leading to the construction of two boreholes to ensure clean water is always available for safe menstrual hygiene.
For the community as a whole, access to clean water and proper sanitation has long been a challenge, with many families dissatisfied with existing facilities. These improvements directly support the project’s goal of improving menstrual health and hygiene for women and girls, while also strengthening the overall health and well-being of the Mehé community. With clean water now accessible and new toilet blocks underway, girls can manage their periods with dignity and privacy, and everyone in the community can benefit from better hygiene, health, and quality of life.
The boreholes, powered by solar energy, now provide safe water directly within the community, reducing reliance on unsafe rivers and streams, lowering the risk of waterborne diseases, and saving women and children the hours once spent walking to fetch water. Each borehole is equipped with its own solar panel system, ensuring a reliable and independent power source. This design prevents water access from being affected by frequent power fluctuations in the region, allowing a steady and sustainable supply for the community.
For women and girls, having clean water nearby is especially important for maintaining proper hygiene during their periods, washing safely, and managing their menstrual needs with dignity as they go about daily life.
The new toilets will reduce open defecation, protect local water sources from contamination, and provide safe, private spaces designed with menstrual health in mind. To sustain these facilities, a gender-balanced Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Management Committee of 35 men and 35 women was established in June 2025. Members were trained on maintenance, sanitation practices, and financial accountability to ensure long-term management.
Alongside these efforts, construction on a Women’s Empowerment Centre has begun. This will become a dedicated space for training and the production of reusable menstrual supplies, with more details to be shared in a future update.
By combining menstrual health education with improved WASH facilities, GNCA and GNCMR are advancing the goals of the “Improving Menstrual Health Education for Women & Girls in Mehé (Cameroon) 2024 – 2027” initiative. Access to clean water and safe sanitation is helping women and girls in Mehé manage their health with dignity, stay in school, and take on leadership roles within their communities.
We are grateful to Global Affairs Canada for supporting this initiative and to our partners in Cameroon for their dedication to implementing it. Together, we are building a healthier and more equitable future for women and girls in Mehé.
This program was made possible with the support from Global Affairs Canada
