In partnership with Swedish NGO, Wise Economy and Project Dignity, Sonke Gender Justice visited Gugulethu Comprehensive Secondary School on 9 March, 2017 to uplift and empower young women in South Africa and offer a dignified solution to managing their menstruation.
Millions of girls around the world cannot go to school while menstruating. Some cannot afford sanitary protection and others are restricted by taboos and traditions. Wise Economy’s My Periods Is Awesome campaign aims to tackle these issues by raising awareness, distributing washable pads and educating boys and girls about Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR), puberty and gender equality.
During the visit, Sonke engaged with a group of 100 boys and girls who were educated on puberty, menstruation and how to respect women and girls while experiencing these changes.
Gugulethu Comprehensive Secondary School is the first of five schools that will be visited around the Western Cape throughout the campaign.
