My inner Confidence - MiC campaign

MiC celebrates women everyday, but today we join hands with the rest of the world to commemorate the lives of strong women who are sisters, daughters and mothers. Happy International Women's Day!

EARTH University student and Mastercard Foundation Scholar Precious Nemutenzi (’20, Zimbabwe) didn’t kick back and relax during her academic recess in December. Instead, she used it to implement her “My Inner Confidence Project” – an adolescent reproductive health and life-skills training program for rural girls.

She teamed up with her alma mater – St. Dominic’s High School of Mutare, Zimbabwe – and its Girls’ Empowerment Movement (GEM) club to plan the workshop for 48 female students of a low-resource secondary school.

For many young women in rural Africa, having a period is deemed shameful and their access to functioning feminine hygiene products is limited – keeping them out of school and away from advancement opportunities. In addition to teaching soft skills such as assertiveness and self-confidence, Precious’s project demonstrated how to make reusable menstruation pads from everyday materials. This way, the schoolgirls’ pad supplies will never run out, they won’t have to depend on costly disposables, and they won’t miss class.

“I appreciate how the EARTH community rallied around me and donated materials,” Precious said. “The girls and teachers we helped gave us enthusiastic feedback, and both local teachers and GEM plan to continue these workshops in other rural schools.”

We need 63 more signatures to stop this injustice — Sign now: The Zimbabwean Government Should Provide Free Sanitary Wear for Girls in Schools

We applaud the support and help from EARTH University, St Dominic's High school, our mentors and all our partners. Our first training at Dora Secondary school was a big success. 56 girls and 6 teachers were trained to make Reusable Menstrual Pads. 49 girls also received regular sanitary wear for an entire school term. We also empowered the girls with adolescent sexual reproductive health education, life skills and career guidance. Ensuring that girls stay in school and are comfortable boosts their confidence and allow them to excel. 😃

Periods affect girls participation in school and lowers their self esteem. Access to hygienic menstrual products is still a huge challenge for girls especially in rural areas.

Meghan Markle: How Periods Affect Potential It's time to end the menstrual shame that thwarts girls' success

Let girls learn! Investing in educating girls is crucial for African Development. By ensuring that girls have adequate and hygienic sanitary wear, we help them perform better in school.

Sanitary towel advert features red 'blood' Bodyform has ditched the blue liquid, saying it wants to confront the taboos about periods.

MiC stands in support of girls. We believe that girls thrive more when they are empowered through education. As you celebrate ,help us keep girls in school by donating sanitary pads. .

http://www.girleffect.org/what-girls-need/articles/2015/05/that-time-of-the-month-shouldn-t-mean-missing-school-period/

Never underestimate the difference you can make in the lives of others. Step forward, reach out and help in keeping girls at school during their menstruation in Zimbabwe.

Donate a pad !

Nunca subestimes la diferencia que puedes hacer en la vida de otros. Ayuda a una chica de Zimbabwe a estar en la escuela durante la menstruación.

¡Dona un paquete de las toallas sanitarias!

That time of the month shouldn’t mean missing school – period