On this May 28th, the world celebrates menstrual hygiene and menstrual health. For this occasion, Uman n Pikin Welbodi and Girl Child Network Sierra Leone joined forces to support adolescent girls from three schools in Kholifa Rowalla chiefdom, in Tonkolili District.
The day began with a meeting involving the leaders of Maikonko village, as well as the principal and teachers of Lighthouse Secondary School. Together, we discussed the taboos and beliefs surrounding menstruation, the important role every member of the community plays in supporting young girls, the challenges they face both at school and at home, and the importance of menstrual, sexual, and reproductive health education for their wellbeing and development.
We then visited Lighthouse Secondary School, where both girls and boys completed a questionnaire to help us better understand their knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and experiences regarding menstruation. Anita, founder and director of Girl Child Network Sierra Leone, then led a discussion with the students about menstrual hygiene and health, as well as sexual and reproductive health. In Sierra Leone, teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections remain common challenges faced by many adolescents.
We ended the day by distributing reusable menstrual hygiene kits, locally produced by Anita and her business, and by donating a water dispenser to be placed near the school toilets so that the girls can properly care for themselves and for their reusable sanitary pads.
We would like to warmly thank Ladies Circle 5 Luxembourg for funding this project through the money they raised during their craft market organized in Luxembourg on March 8th, on the occasion of International Women’s Day. 
And tomorrow: heading to Mabai Community School!
