By Ina & Esu and the BARKA project team | Co-Founders
Since our last project update, we added another $50,000 in funding for Afric'up: Ya Soma, the first major menstrual cup project in Burkina Faso history. International Foundation added $25,000 to complete project funding, and a major individual donor gave a $25,000 gift for BARKA to explore expanding this pilot into 4 other countries in West Africa: Ivory Coast, Senegal, Ghana, and Liberia. This is the first time in our 15 year history that we would be implementing a project outside Burkina Faso.
Meanwhile, the pilot in Burkina has begun and is off to an amazing start. Our inspiring project leaders are meeting government and NGO stakeholders.creating partnerships with community health centers and local country-based organizations working in the Menstrual Health sector.
May 28 is Menstrual Hygiene Day and BARKA is part of the NGO coalition that is planning the national event. We may have an opportunity to promote this project at the event or screen our short film (link below) on national television. The following week, we will lead a stakeholder workshop to present details of our pilot and invite feedback from the major stakeholders who will be involved during the entire 12 month project cycle. The following day our Stage 1 training will begin and 30 community health workers will receive comprehensive menstrual hygiene education and menstrual cups. They will use them for 4 months, developing what we call "cup confidence" before returning for Stage 2 training in October.
Thank you for being a part of this amazing project. We will keep you posted on our progress.
Links:
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