At one of our empowerment clubs, a girl shared that it was her older brother who taught her how to use a menstrual pad, not her parents! The girls were really impressed and decided they should teach the boys’ club so they could support their sisters and reduce bullying. Josphine says they became really excited about creating a safer and more understanding school environment.
So, this week, the girls showed up at the boys’ meeting armed with underwear and pads to help explain about menstrual hygiene. They also talked to the boys about how menstruation makes them feel shy or embarrassed because of teasing, and how it can make them miss school. After the demonstration by the girls, four volunteer boys were invited to repeat the process. “The boys carefully demonstrated how pads are placed on underwear, which helped reinforce their understanding of menstrual hygiene. This activity was intended to help boys appreciate the challenges girls face during menstruation and to promote respect and support rather than teasing.”
The boys shared several reflections after the demonstration. One boy admitted that he had never understood how sanitary pads were used and that the demonstration helped him understand why girls sometimes feel uncomfortable during school days. Another boy said that in the past he had heard boys teasing girls during menstruation, but after the session he realized that such behavior is disrespectful and harmful. One participant explained that the knowledge gained would help him support his sisters at home if they needed assistance buying or understanding sanitary pads. Another student mentioned that boys should encourage girls rather than embarrass them, because both boys and girls share the same goal of completing their education.
That put a smile on our faces!
Comments are closed