#EndPeriodPoverty for Girls in Rural Zimbabwe

The month of September means 'Back to School' for the learners. In Zimbabwe, September is also the month that the popular Jacaranda trees are in full bloom, beautifying the landscape with their purple flowers. However, to the exam classes, Jacaranda trees signal something else - when the cities are painted purple, it also means exam season is upon us.

With the country going through a really tough economic period, which has seen the prices of all basic commodities increasing - many households are finding it hard to afford day to day living. Parents and guardians were frantically trying to secure school fees to enable the children to go back to school. With so many demands on the scarce resources at household level, it is no surprise that menstrual hygiene products are not a priority in most households, leaving many women and girls in a very vulnerable state.

Talia Women's Network partnered with long time 'Friends of Talia' and held a menstrual hygiene outreach session in Hatcliffe Extension on the outskirts of the capital city, Harare. This is a low income community which was established after some illegal settlements were demolished by the government in a clean up campaign more than ten years ago (Operation Murambatsvina). The community first settled in tents that were provided by UNICEF and are slowly regularising their accommodation and shelter through construction of houses. However, there is still a lot of development that needs to be done in the Hatcliffe community, in terms of basic services (water, electricity) and infrastructure (roads, schools, healthcare facilities).

We spent the morning with eighty-eight (88) girls from this community talking to them about menstrual health and hygiene, sexual reproductive health and rights, and career guidance. The girls expressed a desire to break the cycle of poverty that surrounded most of their families. Most resorted to using old cloths and rags to manage their monthly periods and unfortunately sometimes missed school because of lack of proper hygiene products.

The girls received CHAYIL Reusable Pads and were trained on how to use them effectively. The pads are a safe, hygienic and affordable product. With the pads, the girls have one less thing to worry about, ensuring full attendance at school and more time for study for the upcoming exams.

Talia Women's Network is priviledged to be able to continue in the fight against period poverty and keeping the girls in school.

The month of May is Menstrual Health and Hygiene month and all activities this month sought to bring awareness of the challenges women and girls face in managing their monthly periods. Several campaigns were held, in person and online with the messages that highlighted the need for everyone to play a part in ensuring women and girls ahave adequate menstrual hygiene products and more importantly, keeping the girls in school. We also took to social media to educate women and girls on menstruation, hygiene matters and demystify some of the myths on menstruation which have been spread from generation to generation. Several dialogue sessions were held to stimulate dialogue on a subject once thought of as taboo.

To commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day, we spent the day with 60 girls and young women from the residential area of Mufakose. This is a low income community where the majority of the families live on less than a dollar a day. The harsh economic environment has further worsened the plight of women and girls. There has been an increase in teen pregnancies and early marriages and the women and girls revealed that they indulge in risky sexual behaviour to earn money for their basic needs, including sanitary wear.

The young women, like Moreblessing, were pleased to receive reusable sanitary pads which can be used for up to 18 months with proper care. She highlighted that sanitary pads were a monthly cause of concern and she worried every time her periods came because she did not have money for pads. The reusable pads, which are washed and reused have given her one less thing to worry about. She can now concentrate on her studies and focus more on her educational attainment.

We remain committed to playing our part in building a world where no one is left behind because they menstruate.