International Day of the Girl

A leader from PFF teaches girls how to use reusable menstrual pads

The UN declared October 11 International Day of the Girl, and our team in Kasese mobilized to action. Menstruation is a physical reality that ties all women together. And it does not have to limit us in any way. With easy access to reusable menstrual pads, girls and women are able to go to school and work as usual, even when they are menstruating. Also, by making and using reusable pads, they are contributing to the sustainability of our planet.

Talking about these issues is crucial to destigmatizing menstruation globally. Girls need to know that menstruation is healthy and normal, and there is no reason it needs to slow them down.

While working together to make reusable menstrual pads, members of the Paper Fig community talked about issues that face girls in Southwest Uganda. Our leaders, Edith, Medrine and Jasmine created a safe space so the girls who come to Paper Fig know they can talk about any issues that come up in their lives.

After the workshop, members of the Paper Fig team distributed the pads to girls at the local school, and Edith led a conversation with them about the natural changes in their bodies. What better way to celebrate International Day of the Girl than to empower girls to live their lives to the fullest, every day?