Menstrual Hygiene Management

Tackling social taboos to empower young women

Tackling social taboos to empower young women

Millions of girls around the world possess no knowledge about menstruation when they get their first period. A lack of adequate information about this normal biological process breeds fear and shame.

It puts girls’ health at risk and negatively affects their edu­cation, as many girls miss school during their menstruation, or drop out completely when they reach puberty.

Education about menstruation and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) is critical to empower girls to manage their menstruation safely, hygienically, and with confidence.

Common Goal has teamed up with WASH United to develop, test and implement a Menstrual Hygiene Man­agement (MHM) Education Guide.

The project provides the opportunity to implement the education guide in communities around the world, and to better understand and measure the impact of the MHM education guide especially when it comes to the knowl­edge, attitudes and practices of girls around menstrual hygiene.

The Menstrual Hygiene Management project kicked off in 2018 in India. In its first year of implementation, the project changed the lives of over 3,000 girls. Today, the Menstrual Hygiene Management Education Guide devel­oped is being used in more than 15,000 schools and is empowering approximately 2 Million girls in India.

The second phase of the project kicked off in Uganda in July 2019 and will con­tinue throughout the year 2020 in the East Africa region.

The Goal

A world where menstruation doesn't limit girls‘ and women‘s capacity to achieve their full potential.

The Strategy

Use football as a tool to create a learning environment and support system where girls can learn how to manage their period safely and with confidence.

How it Works

With the help of an exciting story and through different activities, girls gain essential knowledge about good menstrual hygiene.

Challenge

630 million girls will experience their first period in the next ten years...
Lack of information
More than half of them will not have enough information to manage their period safely and with confidence.
Societal Taboos
Misconceptions around menstruation and source of bleeding. Cultural taboos restricting girls‘ social interaction.
Missing School
Girls report missing school regularly due to menstrual hygiene issues.

Solution

The project tackles these issues by...
Educating girls on MHM
3,031 girls improved their knowledge on MHM and are empowered to manage their period safely, hygienically and with confidence.
Training coaches & using football to build trust
30 coaches prepared to implement the MHM Education guide. 8 Faciliators from the region trained to support other organisations.
Implementing MHM Education Guide
MHM Education Guide is currently being used in more than 15,000 schools empowering approximately 2 million girls in India.

Impact

Girls have gained confidence and information to manage their periods safely and make informed decisions on sexual reproductive health and wellbeing, through:
Weekly MHM sessions
Female coaches come to the schools once a week and conduct MHM sessions with the girls.
Football-based games on the topic
Football-based games on the topic of menstrual hygiene, sanitation and health introduce the theme.
Gaining trust and support from coaches
The relaxed and fun atmosphere of the sessions helps the girls to open up and build trust with the coach.
Challenge
630 million girls will experience their first period in the next ten years...
Lack of information
More than half of them will not have enough information to manage their period safely and with confidence.
Societal Taboos
Misconceptions around menstruation and source of bleeding. Cultural taboos restricting girls‘ social interaction.
Missing School
Girls report missing school regularly due to menstrual hygiene issues.
Solution
The project tackles these issues by...
Educating girls on MHM
3,031 girls improved their knowledge on MHM and are empowered to manage their period safely, hygienically and with confidence.
Training coaches & using football to build trust
30 coaches prepared to implement the MHM Education guide. 8 Faciliators from the region trained to support other organisations.
Implementing MHM Education Guide
MHM Education Guide is currently being used in more than 15,000 schools empowering approximately 2 million girls in India.
Impact
Girls have gained confidence and information to manage their periods safely and make informed decisions on sexual reproductive health and wellbeing, through:
Weekly MHM sessions
Female coaches come to the schools once a week and conduct MHM sessions with the girls.
Football-based games on the topic
Football-based games on the topic of menstrual hygiene, sanitation and health introduce the theme.
Gaining trust and support from coaches
The relaxed and fun atmosphere of the sessions helps the girls to open up and build trust with the coach.

Impact in the Field

The project Menstrual Hygiene Management kicked off in India in the year 2018. Following its success there, the project was expanded to East Africa in 2019, where it was implemented until the end of 2020. 

27
organisations
5
countries
616
sessions
41
coaches trained
+115k
invested

Common Goal has allocated a total sum of €115,381.00 since the launch of the project in April 2018.

Overcoming Restrictions & Taboos

52%

of the girls have discussed the restrictions with their families.

43%

have now decided to stop following societal restrictions.

Increasing MHM Knowledge

96%

of the girls stated they learned something during the programme.

96%

said they have learned a lot through the programme.

Adopting healthier behaviour

70%

report changing pads/cloth more frequently since the training.

57%

started tracking their periods to be better prepared.

Overcoming Restrictions & Taboos
52%

of the girls have discussed the restrictions with their families.

43%

have now decided to stop following societal restrictions.

Increasing MHM Knowledge
96%

of the girls stated they learned something during the programme.

96%

said they have learned a lot through the programme.

Adopting healthier behaviour
70%

report changing pads/cloth more frequently since the training.

57%

started tracking their periods to be better prepared.

~1.6M
Girls Empowered

Since 2018, the MHM Education Guide has been used by more than 12 organisations in East Africa and India, reaching over 1.6 million girls with MHM education.

"My plan for the future is to teach fellow girls in my community about MHM and to make sure that menstruation does not hinder girls to acquire an education."
Marie Wamboi Njuguna, participant in MHM Train-the-Trainer workshop in Uganda
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