Did you know many girls in Malawi typically miss 5 days of school each month due to lack of access to sanitary products and menstrual health education?
In November 2022 till October 2023 the Think Malawi charity will be supporting the Fountain of Hope project to provide menstrual health management resources to girls in Malawi.
This project aims to support 300 girls at Lufilya community day secondary school, so that they continue to attend school during menstruation periods increasing the chances of successfully completing their education.
Fountain of Hope
Fountain of Hope has been operating in Malawi since 2010, and is a non-for-profit charity organisation working to end gender-based violence, promote girls’ education, and campaign against child marriage. It aims to improve lives of the underserved, especially women and children at risk. Their purpose is to contribute to building resilient communities and to encourage sustainable development by empowering the most vulnerable in societies.
Fountain of Hope youth focus group discussions on child marriages and sexual and reproductive health topics.
Providing menstrual health management resources to girls in Malawi
Funding is being provided by Think Malawi to Fountain of Hope to support the implementation of a range of strategies working at several levels within the community, with the school involved, Mothers Groups and directly with girl and boy students. Workshops, meetings and training sessions will be held to promote community awareness and acceptance of menstrual health management techniques and to inform girls about access to health and legal services in addition to their basic rights to education and their human rights. Additionally, resources to improve access to education such as uniforms, bags, writing materials, and menstrual health resources will also be provided.
Boy and girl champions in SRH were identified by Fountain of Hope to facilitate the scaling up of SRH and HIV/AIDs services to young people in their locality.
Training, community awareness and resource provision
Activities involved in the training, community awareness and resource provision for menstrual health management and reproductive health will include:
The Formation of a girls club of 10 members who will be trained as ambassadors in menstrual health management and and sexual reproductive health
Training for twenty girls and six boys in sexual reproductive health and rights
Programmes to raise community awareness among 5,000 people, on the importance of access to menstrual health management and sexual reproductive health services for girls in Malawi
Training of ten mothers’ groups representatives aiming at the prevention of denial of sexual reproductive health and menstrual health management services to girls
Hold five meetings with the Area Development Committee, Village Development Committees, and relevant authorities
Three interface meetings will be held between malawian girls and health services providers
The project will also provide resources to girls by providing start up school materials including uniform, bags, sanitary pads and writing materials
Two tailoring machines will be provided with start up materials to selected groups of women for sewing of face masks, sanitary pads, uniform and clothes. The resources in this project will ensure that there is families conditioned support to ensure their daughters access and permanence in education.
Mentoring 100 girls in accessing sexual reproductive health services and legal services.
The project provides training to 10 girls and relevant stakeholders on basic girls’ rights to education as well as human rights.
Funds will also be used to help host monitoring sessions on student achievement; parental support for education; teacher capacity to support girls’ education and girls’ socio-emotional learning.
Menstrual Health Management resources will be manufactured by Mothers Groups for 300 girls at Lufilya community day secondary school, so that they continue to attend school during menstruation periods and complete their education. Other resources such as uniforms and face masks will be manufactured.
Members of the Manesikapeni youth club, created by Fountain of Hope in Malawi
The importance of menstrual health management resources
Menstruation is a natural and important aspect of reproductive health for women and girls. However, for many girls in Malawi, managing their menstrual health can be a challenge due to a lack of resources and societal stigma surrounding menstruation.
One of the main challenges that girls in Malawi face when it comes to managing their menstrual health is a lack of access to clean water, soap, and affordable and appropriate menstrual products. Many girls in Malawi may not have access to these basic resources, which can make it difficult for them to manage their menstrual health effectively. This can lead to issues such as poor hygiene and missed school days, which can have a negative impact on girls' overall health and education.
In addition to the practical challenges that girls in Malawi face when it comes to managing their menstrual health, there can also be stigma surrounding menstruation in Malawi. This stigma can make it difficult for girls to openly discuss their menstrual health and seek out the resources that they need to manage it effectively. This can create a cycle of shame and isolation for girls, which can have a negative impact on their overall well-being and development.
Providing menstrual health management resources to girls in Malawi is crucial for addressing these challenges and promoting the overall health and well-being of girls in the country. This can include providing girls with resources, as well as education and support to help them manage their menstrual health effectively. It can also involve efforts to reduce stigma and taboo surrounding menstruation, and create a more supportive and inclusive environment for girls.
Investing in menstrual health management resources for girls in Malawi is an important step towards creating a society that values and supports the rights and needs of girls. By providing girls with the resources and support they need to manage their menstrual health effectively, we can help ensure that they are able to stay healthy and attend school regularly, and contribute to their overall well-being and development.
Youth focus group discussions on child marriages and sexual reproductive health topics arranged by Fountain of Hope in Malawi
How you can support the health and wellbeing of women girls in Malawi
Think Malawi works on projects like Her Education Matters with organisations like Hope for Relief, and African Vision Malawi, to provide girls with the resources and support they need to better manage their menstrual health, and to them stay in school during menstruation, and ultimately to achieve a better education and brighter future.
By making a donation, or by joining Think Malawi together to make regular donations of as little as £5 per month, you can help improve the health, wellbeing, and education of girls in Malawi. Your donations can have a positive impact on the lives of girls in Malawi, and contribute to their overall development.
See how previous projects by Think Malawi have improved access to education for girls and young people in Malawi.
Think Malawi's previous project: Her Education Matters, which provided sustainable menstrual health resources to girls in Malawi with African Vision.