Empowering Girls in School

Dear Cherished Donors!

Songtaba is excited to bring you progree report on our girls empowerment program for the period under review. A lot of capacity and confidence building activities have been designed and implemented with our girls in school. This report highlighs one of the significant milestones. 

To ensure girls effective practice of menstrual health and hygiene in schools, Songtaba for this Quarter sensitized and supported clubs to create sanitary banks in schools for constant availability of sanitary pads for menstrual health and hygiene management in school.  It is not uncommon that girls who experience menstruation for the first time, mostly find it difficult to manage themselves in school due to absence of sanitary pads. The victim may be ridicule by their male counterpart when soiled with this natural condition, and may feel shy and disgrace to return to school thereby increasing girl’s school dropout. To avoid future shame and disgrace, girls expecting their menstruation without alternative to manage, mostly absent themselves from school, resulting in poor performance and subsequent drop out. The sanitary banks shall provide sanitary pads as first aid to girls in school.

To commence these sanitary banks, each school received a box of sanitary pad and two manuals on menstrual health and hygiene management. The manual entitled ‘NO MORE SUFFERING IN SILENCE’ is an illustrated book that explains menstruation in the easiest way for girls who are yet to experience   menstruation. The book is based on practical, cultural and medical guidance to deal with menstruation through real life stories enacted with cartoon. Girls were expected to plan topics in the manual in to their termly action plan for in-depth discussion with resources persons.

The 1225 girl’s club members and 70 mentors in Nanumba could not hide their excitement but thank Songtaba for such wonderful initiatives and supports for girls in school. This is what 16 years old Ayisha, a girl’s club president from kassimiya has to say:

“Girls who soiled themselves with the natural monthly blood flow mostly find it difficult to return to school especially those ridiculed by their male counterpart. Out of 10 girls, only 2% can gather courage to return to school after such stigma experience. The few who build confidence to return find it difficult to concentrate in class because of mockery. The existence of sanitary banks in school shall guarantee our safe stay in school.  Girl’s periodic absenteeism will cease, and their performance in school improve”.