Transforming Lives in Cameroon with Good Neighbours Canada’s “Better Life for Girls” Initiative
Last Menstrual Hygiene Day, Good Neighbours Canada focused on women and girls living in the heart of Cameroon’s rural communities, where access to basic necessities and education around menstruation can be daunting or totally inaccessible. Amidst these challenges, we seek to shine a beacon of hope: Good Neighbours Canada’s “Better Life for Girls” initiative.
The core principle of the Better Life for Girls initiative lies in its hands-on activities designed to educate and empower girls in the rural communities of Mehé, Cameroon. This transformative program aims to uplift and empower girls, paving the way for brighter futures and improved opportunities for them to have comfortable lives, devoid of all the longstanding myths and traditions that hinder them.
Damoura was a beneficiary and leader of the local female group. Before the intervention, she, like many others, used makeshift materials for menstrual management. Poor menstrual hygiene can lead to infections that leave women vulnerable to infertility, cervical cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
"Before, we used wrappers which we cut into small pieces during our periods to absorb blood."
Through accessing Good Neighbours training sessions and a personal menstrual hygiene kit, Damoura’s perspective shifted. She is now empowered with knowledge and resources on safe menstrual health management, and advocates for better menstrual hygiene practices in her community by sharing her newfound knowledge with her peers, ensuring that others benefit from the program’s support.
Creating a #PeriodFriendlyWorld
Access to menstrual hygiene products is essential for health and dignity. Through our program, reusable pads and other essential hygiene items are distributed to girls in need, ensuring they have the the tools they need to manage their periods safely and comfortably. We engage stakeholders and community members in conversations about gender equality and menstrual health to foster a community-wide culture of support and understanding beyond just those who menstruate.
Surveys conducted among 350 women in Mehé revealed significant transformations post-intervention . Understanding of menstruation among participants increased fromonly a fraction to100%, highlighting a transformative change in community understanding which would in turn significantly decrease distress among menstruating community members. Following local distribution of reusable pads, community members reporting using safe menstrual management products increased from 1.1% to 96.8%, confirming the program’s positive impacts on community health and reducing the risk of avoidable infection.
This year, we supported Good Neighbors Cameroon in commemorating Menstrual Hygiene Day in the villages of Mehe and Ouazzang villages, where knowledge on menstrual health practices is very limited. An awareness campaign was done to educate the community on good hygiene practices, myths and taboos on menstruation, and the proper use of menstruation pads.
This successful campaign involved a grand total of 776 participants. Men, women, and children of various ages actively joined the campaign. Aside from that, at least 300 menstrual and hygiene kits were also distributed amongst them.
This year, we supported Good Neighbors Cameroon in commemorating Menstrual Hygiene Day in the villages of Mehe and Ouazzang villages, where knowledge on menstrual health practices is very limited. An awareness campaign was done to educate the community on good hygiene practices, myths and taboos on menstruation, and the proper use of menstruation pads.
This successful campaign involved a grand total of 776 participants. Men, women, and children of various ages actively joined the campaign. Aside from that, at least 300 menstrual and hygiene kits were also distributed amongst them.
As the successes of the “Better Life for Girls” initiative are celebrated, we look ahead with hope of ongoing success. We are excited to announce renewed support for this program through Global Affairs Canada, which will enable us to expand our reach and impact across Mehé, reaching even more girls, women and communities in need across rural Cameroon from 2024-27. By addressing barriers to education, healthcare, and economic empowerment, the initiative will continue to lay the foundation for a brighter and more equitable future for girls around the world. We look forward to continuing to transform the lives of girls in Cameroon, one village at a time.
Help us reach more communities and spread menstrual health education through our Better Life for Girls program.
Blog post supported by Sarah Martha Olaleye, Youth Advisory Committee
