Promoting Menstrual Dignity in Schools: VAHA Celebrates Youth Day
This Youth Day, Value Health Africa (VAHA) took an important step toward breaking taboos and empowering students by conducting a Menstrual Dignity Awareness Program in three secondary schools: Collège Maladie, CEFTI, and STAFF College.
Over the course of three days, around 300 students, girls and boys, participated in interactive sessions designed to educate, engage, and inspire. The focus was clear: menstruation is natural, menstrual dignity is a right, and no student should ever feel ashamed or excluded because of it.
🏫 Learning, Sharing, and Breaking Taboos
The sessions were far from ordinary lectures. Students took part in:
🎲 Fun educational games teaching the biology of menstruation and hygiene practices
❌ Myth-busting activities that corrected common misconceptions (like “girls can’t play sports during their period”).
📝 Anonymous question boxes, giving shy students a safe space to ask questions;
💖 Confidence-building and empathy exercises,👦👧 Male engagement activities to encourage boys to be allies and foster respect
The results were immediate. Students asked thoughtful questions, shared personal experiences, and showed empathy toward their peers. Even the shyest participants found their voice through the anonymous question boxes, making the sessions truly inclusive.
📢 Key Messages That Resonated
Throughout the program, the facilitators shared messages that left a lasting impression:
- Menstruation is natural and normal 🩸
Girls should never feel ashamed or excluded
🙅♀️.Menstrual dignity is a right, not a privilege
⚖️ Supporting menstrual dignity helps protect education, health, and confidence
🌱A girl who experiences fear or shame during her period cannot learn with peace of mind. Protecting menstrual dignity means protecting education, health, and the future.
🌟 Real Impact
By the end of the program:
300 students had improved understanding of menstrual health
Boys learned to support their peers and challenge stigma
Girls gained confidence and a sense of belonging in school.
The schools fostered a safer, respectful, and stigma-free environment.
“Students were highly engaged, asked relevant questions, and were eager to support one another,” said facilitators Arlette, Sébastien, and Victorien.
💙 Looking Ahead
The Youth Day Menstrual Dignity Program was more than an awareness campaign—it was a step toward lasting cultural change in schools. By educating students, promoting respectful attitudes, and empowering girls, VAHA is helping build inclusive, safe, and supportive learning environments for all.
Because menstrual dignity is not a luxury, it’s a right.
#VAHA #MenstrualDignity #YouthDay #InclusiveSchools #EducationForAll #HealthAndWellbeing