At EMTAG Foundation, we believe in empowering girls and young women to reach their full potential. Our initiative, the ‘Pad a Girl Child’ campaign, exemplifies our commitment to addressing crucial issues affecting girls’ education and well-being in rural communities- period poverty.

Menstruation is an essential yet often neglected aspect of a girl’s life, especially in rural communities where access to proper hygiene resources and awareness is limited. Menstrual poverty often leads to absenteeism from school among girls, particularly in regions where access to menstrual hygiene products and facilities is limited. She Rise Africa (now known as Empowering the African Girl Child Foundation) initiated a menstrual hygiene sensitization and intervention project to address the challenges faced by teenage girls in rural communities, specifically targeting Ojamakogwu community in Olamaboro Local Government of Kogi State, Nigeria. The project aimed to sensitize adolescent girls aged 12-19 on proper menstrual hygiene practices and provide sanitary pad interventions to alleviate their challenges.

The interaction with young schoolgirls during this session affirmed how issues of menstruation are, till now, a barrier to the school attendance of young girls during their menstruation. Major issues here include stigmatization from their male counterparts, inadequate information on hygiene and sanitation, and inadequate information on the use of menstrual hygiene materials. These were areas toward which the EMTAG Foundation team tailored enlightenment. This campaign, which reached over 30 girls, did not just provide sensitization, but also free sanitary products. It amassed great results, as girls who had never seen a sanitary pad before could appropriately identify, fix a sanitary pad, and gained enormous information about their bodies. These projects enormously contribute to bettering the lives of women and girls in the local communities in Kogi State.

Achievements and Outputs

• Sensitization of Teenage Girls: The project successfully sensitized teenage girls in the Ojamakogwu community about menstruation and proper hygiene practices. Through interactive sessions, girls were educated on menstrual hygiene, debunking myths and misconceptions surrounding menstruation.
• Distribution of Sanitary Pads: Despite challenges, including limited resources and lower than expected turnout, the project distributed sanitary pads to 30 girls in the community. This provision ensured that girls had access to necessary hygiene materials to manage their menstruation effectively.
• Community Engagement: The project fostered community engagement by involving community leaders and parents in the sensitization sessions. This approach helped in promoting a shift in mindset and encouraging the normalization of menstruation within the community, thereby reducing stigma and discrimination against menstruating girls.
  Empowerment Through
• Education: By providing comprehensive information on menstrual hygiene practices and the proper use of sanitary pads, the project empowered girls with knowledge to take charge of their menstrual health. This empowerment is essential for promoting confidence and self-esteem among adolescent girls.
• Awareness Beyond Participants: Beyond the direct participants, the project created awareness within the larger community about the importance of menstrual hygiene and the need to support girls during menstruation. This ripple effect contributes to breaking down societal taboos and promoting inclusivity for menstruating girls.