Sarah Abbott was placed in Kampala, Uganda, as part of AKFC’s International Youth Fellowship program.
Never did I predict that this Fellowship would bring me such passion for one very simple, yet life-changing innovation: the menstrual cup.
Oftentimes, we forget the privilege of not having to worry about how we will manage our next menstrual cycle – how to attend work or school, see peers, play, collect food or water, or simply leave our home. During my first visit to I spoke with women and girls in the community. Our conversations truly opened my eyes to not only the challenges these girls face in managing their periods, but also to the immense impact that a simple menstrual cup can have. Yumbe is a rural district situated in the northern West Nile region of Uganda.
The first thing I learned is that — for some girls — their first menstrual cycle marks the end of their childhood. Their parents, neighbours, and peers may perceive them a a woman who is now responsible for supporting herself. Students shared with us – “Once a girl has seen her period, the only thought is that she is now ready for marriage.” “I learned about periods in school. I was in the garden and saw blood, so I ran home and prepped a cloth myself, but I did not tell my parents. I still have not told my parents”.
I also learned that families may simply not have the means to purchase menstrual products each month. Imagine being 14 years old and responsible for raising money to purchase menstrual products each month. Imagine fearing that – if you don’t — you will be shamed by your community. What would you do? Consider the vulnerability of being in such a position. In the region, lack of access to menstrual products is a significant driver of school dropout and teenage pregnancy. With many aware of the vulnerability of women in need of menstrual products, unfortunately some girls are taken advantage of, lured or coerced by boys and men in the community with the offer of menstrual products. “And then a pad becomes a baby…” – A phrase I never thought I’d hear, and a phrase I don’t think I could ever forget.
Through a human-centred design process, teams of local community members in Yumbe district worked together to identify menstruation as a primary barrier to education in their communities.
The solution was to provide menstrual cups and training around menstrual health management to 1500 school-going girls in the district. The challenge: a litany of stigma, shame, and misinformation around menstruation and the menstrual cup. One girl shared a common stigmatizing myth with me, “If you climb a fruiting tree on your period, it will never fruit again.” Despite initial hesitations from communities, we were quickly able to see the power in offering communities knowledge around the menstrual cup, creating safe spaces for people to ask questions and to voice any concerns. Following a pilot of 50 girls, we heard incredible testimonies of newfound confidence at school. “You can go anywhere with it, and you don’t have to worry about needing to wash it. In class you totally concentrate. You don’t have to worry and can forget you’re on your period.”
Through this process, we saw the demand for the menstrual cups in region grow greater and greater as communities began to see the positive impact these cups could have, with both men and women eager for the larger distribution to take place.
Finally, after months of preparation and anticipation, we were ready to begin the distribution of 1,500 menstrual cups across 31 schools in Yumbe District.
My colleagues, design team members and 24 local women, each trained to deliver menstrual health management education and menstrual cups, gathered at the AKF offices in Yumbe. I counted out 50 cups for each of our 7 teams, who work across Yumbe’s many communities.
Each team was assigned one primary school per day, where they trained and provided a cup to up to 50 girls and their female teachers. To start, trainers conducted a survey with each of the girls in attendance – capturing the full impact of this project will be an asset to any organization hoping to conduct menstrual cup projects in the future.
Our 2-hour education session strives to empower girls to feel confident in managing their menstrual cycles. This includes helping girls to understand the female reproductive system and menstrual cycle, addressing stigma and myths around menstruation and the menstrual cup, and how to use and care for the cup. Trainers start by sharing their own experiences with menstruation to encourage girls to feel comfortable talking about their own menstrual cycle and lessen the feeling of shame around discussing their period.
Most girls have little experience discussing menstruation, making it crucial to create a safe space for sharing.
Here are some of the reflections they shared with us: “When I felt [the blood], I called my friend. I was crying because I was afraid I was going to die.” “I went to fetch firewood in the bush when I noticed blood. I was very scared and did not know what was happening to me. I didn’t tell anyone and kept washing myself. I thought my internal organs were spoiled. I went to my sister for help, she told my mother who then got me a rag. My mother told me it meant I was lucky because my period meant that I could reproduce in the future.”
Throughout the week, we visited 31 schools. By the end of the fifth day, 1,497 menstrual cups had been distributed to girls in primary schools across the district. Despite enrollments of upwards of 2,000, some schools did not have 50 menstruating girls in attendance, highlighting a lack of attendance for girls of menstruating age and the need for better solutions. At each school that we visited, my colleague and I met with any available teachers to talk to them about the cup and foster more local champions within the community. When given opportunity to hold a cup and to ask questions, support came quickly as educators realized the potential impact that the menstrual cup could have for their learners, teachers, as well as the other women in their lives.
Menstrual cups are such an unmatched menstrual health management solution, as well as an incredible vessel for empowering women and girls.
In a context where access to clean water or soap can be a challenge, the menstrual cup can be cleaned with only minimal water. Where there is a lack of clean and private hygiene facilities, a girl can spend 12 hours without worrying about needing to empty it. In face of economic hardship, they and their families do not have to worry about how they will afford menstrual products for a decade.
With a menstrual cup, girls immediately experience a new level of confidence and freedom – to attend school, concentrate better, play more, to venture outside of the home. “In class you totally concentrate. You don’t have to worry and can forget you’re on your period.” “I prefer it to pads, as I don’t have to worry about leaking in class, and you don’t worry about needing soap.” “You can go a long time and not worry about changing – I can go on long journeys.”
Driving through the many villages of the West Nile, I experienced countless “pinch-me” moments. The natural beauty of Uganda is striking. The kindness and welcoming nature of communities is unforgettable. The resilience of the women and girls I met is inspiring.
The experience and perspectives I gained are invaluable. While we still have much more to do, I am eager for everything this project has left to teach me and for any opportunity to apply my new knowledge to women’s empowerment projects in my career.
