Menstruation Education & Empowerment Workshops

Girl Now Woman Later recognizes that it is only through preparing, educating, and caring for the girls of today that we can ensure success for the women of tomorrow. In the hopes of destigmatizing periods and keeping girls in school, we have constructed two workshops designed to help girls in Burkina Faso feel comfortable with menstruation. 

The “I WONDER! / J’IMAGINE!” works with girls ages 8-12 to ask them the basic questions of “Que penses-tu des menstrues?” (or “What do you think about menstruation?”), which before this time would never have been posed to them. Asking these questions facilitates a space in which these young girls can learn and create a healthy relationship with their bodies, empowering them to later advocate for their right to school despite their period. Younger girls are provided with a snack and drink during the workshops. 

The second workshop, the Know, Want to Know, Learn (KWL) method, is intended for girls aged twelve and up. They are both invited to speak on what they already know and then ask what they wish to know about menstruation. Specifically, in the Want to Know portion, they are encouraged to ask about any aspect of menstruation or menstrual hygiene that was a mystery to them. During this discussion, they learn about various important subjects: puberty, anatomy, and the menstrual cycle. They also discuss common occurrences for menstruators like irregularity and pain, menstrual hygiene, emotional changes, and sex. In 2024, we began inviting parents to the workshops, which is beginning to bridge the generational divide between mothers (and fathers) that were taught never to speak about menstruation, and their daughters, who want to learn more about the changes they are experiencing. 

One such attendee to the KWL workshop stated that she was able to come away from the experience with more knowledge about the changes happening to her body. As a result, she has increased self-confidence and is now better equipped to have good menstrual hygiene. She says, “If all the girls could participate in this, it would be great!” Older girls are provided hygiene items like menstrual pads at the end of the workshops. In 2024, we have begun collecting re-usable fabric pads to distribute at our workshops. They are enviornmentally sustainable, and much more enonomical than disposable pads. 

Without initiatives such as “I WONDER! / J’IMAGINE!” or the KWL strategies, many young women in Burkina Faso have little to no information about periods or menstruation in general, as it is not within the standard elementary, middle school, or even high school curriculum. Therefore, many girls enter the world unequipped even to handle getting their period. This leads to high rates of female dropouts in school.  

We ask these questions to support the future of these women. By creating a greater understanding of their bodies, we allow for greater autonomy. Periods happen to all women (and menstruating people); it is not a shameful topic, which is exactly what this workshop aims to highlight. By empowering these young women, we can create greater hope for the future and a better world for all.  

Together, we are making a profound difference in the lives of these young girls, shaping a brighter future filled with possibilities. We look forward to the Fall and more workshops at our partner schools!

Links:

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