Gender Equality Guatemala Project #44702

Menstrual Equity for Girls in Latin America

by Days for Girls International

Menstrual Equity for Girls in Latin America

Project Report | Jul 1, 2021
Kik' Voces Menstruates

By Erin Hale | Grants Manager

It's been a busy couple of months for Days for Girls Guatemala! This spring, they launched a new independent film called Kik’ Voces Menstruantes (Kik’ Menstruating Voices), and hosted viewing parties in a number of large cities throughout the country. The short film, shot in documentary-style and available in Spanish with English subtitles, features 22 Guatemalan women as well as local menstrual health advocates who share their stories, give advice, and advocate for women. Throughout the film, using knowledge gained first-hand, these same women expel dangerous myths such as:

Women should not eat avocados during menstruation;
Women should not shower during menstruation;
Menstruating women need to hide themselves from public view;
Disposable pads cause infections;
And, when a woman is on her period, she cannot get pregnant.

Some of the girls in the film describe feeling shame when their bodies first went through the healthy process of menstruation. A particularly poignant portion of the film is when older women describe their frustration and fear of how to approach the topic of menses with their own daughters.

Days for Girls Guatemala Country Director Nilvia Gonzalez wrote, “It’s a human right for girls to have education about their bodies.” Using funds donated though GlobalGiving, we are changing the narrative on menstrual health. It is our goal to highlight, address, and put an end to these heart-wrenching experiences! We aim to empower women and girls with education and the tools necessary to make the best decisions for themselves and to ultimately end period poverty. But we cannot accomplish this without the support of our incredible donors. So we thank you for your commitment to providing dignity to those we serve.

We are excited to see what is next for the women and girls in Guatemala! As they use their voices to address a topic they previously considered taboo, they can start using their voices to reach every girl with dignity. Period.

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Mar 12, 2021
Continued Menstrual Support for Indigenous Girls

By Erin Hale | Grants Manager

Thanks to your gift, the Unlimited Potential of Mayan Girls GlobalGiving campaign women and girls continue to receive vital tools and education to ensure they are able to handle their menstruation with health and dignity. Days for Girls Guatemala shifted its primary focus during the past year due to the pandemic. Our ability to conduct traditional DfG menstrual Kit distributions was limited as schools closed. However, using your donated funds, our Guatemala team found innovative ways to continue serving the indigenous populations across Guatemala and the region. The following are just some of their recent activities and successes.

DfG Guatemala and Social Enterprise leaders conducted virtual sessions of our Ambassador of Women’s Health (AWH) workshops over Zoom, Google Meet, and Facebook Live.
DfG Guatemala leaders met with various local community leaders to promote menstrual health advocacy.
Our Guatemala office recorded a documentary on menstruation in Guatemala (which we look forward to sharing with you soon).
For Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we hosted an event to encourage Guatemalan young people to become involved with social projects.
With our partner Worldwide Education & Research Institute (WERI), our leaders participated in the inauguration of the National Menstrual Network. This included a retreat involving 50 girls which focused on female empowerment and menstruation management.
Partnering with two other organizations, DfG Guatemala began Escuela de Mujeres Lideres (School of Women Leaders), a training program consisting of five modules over three months. Using lessons learned during the pandemic, the program is conducted virtually in order to include participants in different regions. The curriculum includes: (1) Women’s Rights; (2) Leadership; (3) Menstrual and Mental Health; (4) Community Communication; and (5) Projects in Action.
Under the leadership of our Guatemala country office, DfG Dominican Republic, DfG Ecuador, and AMACHAJUL Maya Girl Social Enterprises achieved Gold Status, putting them in the top tier of DfG Social Enterprises.

We are so proud of all that DfG Guatemala has accomplished, notwithstanding the limits imposed by the pandemic! This would not have been possible without your support. Nilvia Gonzalez, DfG Guatemala Country Director expressed, “Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to be part of this incredible movement around the world to empower girls.”

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