#EndPeriodPoverty for Girls in Rural Zimbabwe

It is jacaranda season and all students know what it means. The third and final term of the academic year commenced a few weeks ago, right at the time when the jacaranda trees are showing off their full purple blooms. As the landscape is painted a beautiful purple, students however, intepret it differently. This season signifies the beginning of exam season as the grade sevens, O levels and A levels are getting ready for their final exams.

Talia Women's Network partnered with Stanbic Bank of Zimbabwe and visited Nyava Secondary School, approximately 60km from the capital Harare. During the visit, the teams interacted with girls at the school and encouraged them to study hard to increase their chances of a brighter future ahead. They also offered career guidance as most of the girls were not familiar with the various career options they could pursue.

The girls are faced with the daunting task of exam preparations and Talia Women's Network was able to provide them with the menstrual hygiene products they desperately need. More than 300 girls at Nyava Secondary School received dignity packs which comprised of reusable sanitary pads and underwear. This gave the girls one less thing to worry about and they know have no other excuse for not concentrating on their exam preparations.

The partnership with GlobalGiving and other private sector partners in Zimbabwe gives the girls in rural communities in Zimbabwe a boost in their education and an opportunity to change their lives and the lives of their families forever.

Talia Women's Network started the year with renewed emphasis on the "Keep Girls in School" campaign. The examination results published at the beginning of the year showed a decline in performance for rural schools for both O level and A level candidates. A number of reasons can be attributed to this poor performance including lack of adequate learning materials and also the secondary impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged school closures.

However, conversations with the female learners indicate that period poverty is a major factor that causes so much stress and worry among the female students. The economic hardships the country is facing has resulted in an increase in prices of most commodities and unfortunately menstrual hygiene products are now beyond the reach of many. The girls interviewed highlighted that their parents and guardians were struggling to raise money for their fees and basic household commodities. There was no money to spare for sanitary pads hence the girls resorted to using old pieces of cloth and old newspapers which is unhygienic and could potentially result in health concerns. Talia Women's Network distributed dignity packs which comprise of reusable sanitary pads, underwear and basic hygiene products to the girls.

We have attached screenshots from some of the conversations with the girls. The actual videos are available and will be posted as links.

Links:

• Testimonial on how the reusable pads are making a difference...