Alem, a vibrant 15-year-old 8th grader at Geda Bimerji Primary School, was dancing joyfully during the school’s Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Day, May 28/2024. With a radiant smile, she exclaimed, “I dance because the stress I felt during my menstruation has been alleviated, thanks to the reusable menstrual kit provided by this project.” Alem comes from a household with limited income. When she first started her period, it was challenging to ask her parents for money to buy sanitary pads. She explained, “I bleed heavily during my period and need to change pads three to four times a day. This means I need more than one kit per month. Asking my parents for money once is hard enough; asking again is almost impossible because they can’t afford it. So, I often had to use homemade fabric pads, which were far from ideal. They would slip when I walked fast, making me afraid to go to school in case the fabric fell out in front of my friends.”
Everything changed when the project introduced reusable sanitary pads. Alem said, “I didn’t hesitate to buy one. It was a one-time investment of just 40 ETB, and I can use it for the next two years. The cost is even less than what I would spend on disposable pads in a month. This MHM Day is a celebration for me. I celebrate the day I stopped using makeshift fabric pads that caused me so much stress and embarrassment. I celebrate my liberation from the anxiety of asking my parents for money to buy disposable pads. Today, I am menstruating and dancing! I never thought I could walk fast, let alone dance, during my period when I was using fabric pads. This MHM Day is truly my day.”
Listening to Alem’s story, I felt deeply moved. Being a female in the developing world often feels like a disability due to the lack of resources and support for menstrual hygiene. I felt grateful to be part of this project and to hear her testimony, which echoes the experiences of many schoolgirls.
Alem also shared how being a member of the girls’ club has empowered her. “The girls’ club has given me knowledge about MHM, taught me how to wash my genital area to avoid infections, and provided a safe space to ask questions and build self-confidence. Thanks to the club, I understand that menstruation is a natural process.”
Although Alem doesn’t use the MHM room dedicated to girls, she appreciates its value. “My friends often use it to rest when they have period cramps, and the booklets in the room have taught us a lot about MHM.”
The project has also renovated the school toilets, which previously had no doors. “The renovated toilets allow us to use them safely and with privacy. This improvement has made a significant difference for all female students, especially those of us who have started menstruating.”
Alem concluded with gratitude, “We are all dancing to celebrate our appreciation for the project and everyone involved. It means a lot to all the female students.”
Thank you!
(Narrated by – Bezawit D, Senior LDM Manager, FWS unit)