Menstrual Health and Hygiene
Overcoming Period Poverty
In some rural villages, women and girls are excluded from day-to-day activities, being sometimes even forbidden to cook.
Why? Because of myths and taboos surrounding periods.
When you menstruate, you are considered impure. Not only do girls suffer in silence, but they also rely on rags, newspapers, banana leaves, and old clothing. After all, in a place where agriculture and trading are the main sources of income, menstrual products have no place in the household budget.
Shame and secrecy are impacting women’s health and keeping them from working and studying.
"It's not fair that we don't have the same opportunities as boys because we have to stay home so many days."
Before, many women and girls were very ashamed to talk about menstruation, especially menstrual hygiene. With this sensitization campaign, menstruation will no longer be a topic of shame because many women have been edified. They now know what to do and what not to do during their periods. Thank you very much Good Neighbors for this support.
Mita George
Member of the Méhé community
Better Life for Girls
Hygiene and Sanitation
Support the building of water boreholes and hygiene facilities
Dignity
Provide menstrual health and hygiene kits to young girls
Menstrual Education
Open conversations on menstrual health and encourage hygiene
Good Neighbours organizes girls’ clubs and training sessions to promote personal hygiene. One of the biggest goals of this project is to provide a safe place for women to ask questions, creating learning opportunities in a judgment-free environment. Whole communities are involved, including men.
During educational talks, the Good Neighbours team creates demonstrations that are easy to follow. Participants discuss fertility, family planning, and menstrual symptoms.
Men are encouraged to participate to understand what women’s bodies go through during menstruation, and how vital it is to maintain good menstrual hygiene.
Women and girls are empowered to become active ambassadors in their communities.
Ongoing
Cameroon
Good Neighbours Canada works alongside Good Nerighbors Cameroon to lead the discussion on menstrual health. Our Better Life for Girls program supports girls and young women by training women’s groups, girls’ clubs, community health workers, and teachers in menstrual hygiene management, equipping them to spread accurate information throughout the community.
We deliver this not only to the women in the community, but to the men as well.
who previously lacked boreholes to access clean and safe water for maintaining their personal hygiene.
One of the first steps is to distribute Dignity Kits, with soap, pairs of underwear, reusable pads, and menstrual bracelets to track their periods. We teach the members of the community how to use these items as part of our initiative.
Our program also includes construction of boreholes and toilets while promoting female leadership in WASH Management Committees, aiming for at least 50% female representation to improve gender equality and resource management.