Educate Girls in Zambia on Gender Equity

Our last workshop on “Menstrual Education and Sexual Reproductive Health” was held in April 2022: 54 girls from three different schools attended this workshop. During the workshop, the following topics were discussed by professionals (nurse, social worker) and staff from Chance4all:

• Contraceptives and Reproductive health;
• Mental health awareness;
• Menstrual health, hygiene and myths associated with menstruation;
• Introduction of menstrual cups; and
• Use of reusable pads, their benefits and maintenance.

At the end of the workshop the following items were distributed to the girls.

• Re –useable pads five pairs per  individual
• Washing power
• Bathing soap
• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Snack pack, fruits and juice.

13 GIRLS were selected as cup ambassadors and will receive a cup. During our next workshop we will invite these ambassadors to speak about their experience.

We intend to include boys in our next workshop and include topics of substance abuse.

Stay tuned for our next report...

In the meantime, enjoy the video made by one of our students at Chance4all in collaboration with another student of the world

Links:

• Cup Video

In March 2021 the "Educate Girls in Zambia on Gender Equity" project was launched successfully with a workshop on Sexual  Reproductive Health. Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases increased to an alarming level at the beginning of June 2021, resulting in the closure of schools from June 17th to August 23rd. Consequently, Chance4all had to put the sensitization project on hold and was not able to conduct a second workshop, as initially planned, until November 2021. 

However, with the re-opening of schools at the end of August mentoring meetings for girls resumed, and a second workshop was carried out in November, where girls from other schools within the Bauleni community could participate. The insights from our reporting with the Menstrual Cup Ambassadors, as well as the feedback from the first workshop in April provided us with a good baseline for this upcoming workshop. 

The second workshop was held on November 4th 2021 at the multipurpose center (Space4all), and focused on menstrual health education, sexual reproductive health and mental health (the detailed program is attached). Our focus age-group ranged from Grade 5 to Grade 8 and included 30 girls and 30 guardians of which 8 girls came from chance4all and 22 from Bauleni Special Needs School.

The attendance was high, and very interactive. The guardians that attended showed positive attitude toward the program as they actively participated and requested continuation of such workshops. They also requested for workshops to show them how to make reusable pads.

With the results obtained through these activities and the feedback we received, we are encouraged to continue this project and we will work toward extending the workshops to other schools and districts, COVID restrictions permitting. Our plan for 2022 is to spread ths workshop to other schools within the community. Again, we take this opportunity to recognize the generous support we receive knowing full well that all this would not be possible without you!

Thank you!