Little Cup Big Change: Improving Menstrual Hygiene

One of the most challenging issues among adolescent girls and young women is menstrual management. It is at this point that Somero Uganda sought to implement the Little Cup, Big change; Improving menstrual hygiene. With funds from the Global giving platform, Somero Uganda distributed 50 menstrual cups to adolescent girls and young women in the slums of Kawempe division, Kampala district. Sessions on menstrual cup use were conducted for these girls before distribution. This report highlights the activities conducted in this period;

Feed back sessions were conducted with the girls and young women who received menstrual cups to find out how their lives have changed since they received menstrual cups. One of the beneficiaries mentioned that, "Since i started using menstrual cups, i nolonger have to worry about the menstrual period once a new month clocks. I used to divert the little money i had for food into buying sanitary pads, and yet even those i used to buy would not be enough. I am now happy that i nolonger have to worry about my menstrual period every month."

During the period, we also conducted sessions on making re-usable sanitary pads for those girls and young women who did not receive menstrual cups. With materials from Somero international volunteers, 50 girls and young women were trained in making re-usable sanitary pads. Each of the participants had a chance to keep the sanitary pads they made.

In the coming months, we shall continue training girls and young women in using menstrual cups and re-usable sanitary pads.

We are very grateful for the funds received from donors globally through the global giving platform.

LITLE CUP BIG CHANGE MENSTRUAL CARE PROGRAM  MONTHLY REPORT 2019

INTRODUCTION:

Menstrual management among young people living in the urban is a challenging topic and concern to address. With support from our GlobalGiving friends, 50 menstrual cups where purchased and provided to 50 girls as a cost-effective, sustainable, and hygienic method of managing menstruation in Uganda. Following the provision of the cups, a follow up and continuous trainings were made to some of the girls and staff who received the cups.

FOCUS GROUP DISCUSION AND IN-DEPTH TRAINING

Two focus group discussions were conducted to reflect on the use of menstrual cups among the beneficiaries who received the cups in the initial launch of the project. In their discussion about their experience in using the cups, a number of their views were documented which included having challenges in inserting the cups by almost all the beneficiaries of the program. This was responded to during the in-depth training on usage that was conducted by their fellow peers who did not face any challenges. Additionally, monthly sessions were conducted to 56 young people on usage and maintenance of menstrual cups, puberty, menstrual cycles, and menstrual management.

 LESSONS LEARNT 

• There is still fear and myths surrounding the usage of menstrual cups which we need to adress by conducting more sessions to raise awareness.
• Menstrual management is very costly as the use of single drop sanitary pads is not sustainable. There is need for provision of more sustainable alternatives forexample trainings on how to use reusable sanitary towels for those who cannot afford menstrual cups.

Challenges

Pressure from the young people who never received menstrual cups to receive trainings on usage of reusable sanitary pads. This also requires training materials and facilitation for the training