Celebrating the Boys Who Help Girls Stay in School

“It takes courageous women? and? enlightened men to change the world… Find the “enlightened” men, who want the best for their wives and daughters, and ask for their support”. ??Herta von Stiegel

Finding and bringing out this enlightenment in boys to support the next generation of empowered, educated women is at the core of everything we do at Asante Africa Foundation . As Menstrual Hygiene Day approaches, l want to share our experience of educating boys on menstrual health and all things puberty related.

One experience, in particular, stands out for me. A twelve-year-old boy I met on one of my trips to Tanzania told me how he became his sister's advocate after completing our Wezesha Vijana Program (WVP) . He went to his father and explained menstruation and the importance of supporting his sister with monthly products. After being educated about body changes in both girls and boys during puberty as part of our WVP,? the little boy found the confidence to stand up for his sister in an environment where a little girl could never have that conversation with her father. For me, this little boy embodies enlightenment.?

This enlightenment is crucial in tackling period poverty . A staggering one in every ten girls in Sub-Saharan Africa miss out on school during their period. Our WVP educates 11-14-year-old boys, as well as girls, on menstrual health.

I am constantly amazed by boys' enthusiasm to support their female peers in overcoming menstruation challenges. This support is vital in the East African rural, off-the-beaten-track communities where we work. With sanitary products and community support, girls can stay on the learning path and overcome period poverty.

The boys we train work with and on behalf of their female peers to alleviate period poverty. We witness these boys go from being embarrassed at the mere mention of menstrual hygiene to actively participating in projects to create supplies of reusable sanitary equipment . Inspired by his mother's struggles, Asante Africa Foundation alumnus Issac created a reusable sanitary napkin business in Kenya.

“I have a passion for female empowerment mainly because of how I saw my mother suffering after my father divorced her. She was not able to provide for us as she would have if my father was around.”

Normalizing menstruation discussions within Asante Africa Foundation safe spaces empowers girls to take charge of their menstrual health. Alumnae Grace in Kenya is no longer afraid or ashamed of getting her period.

“I’m not afraid of getting my period because our mentors taught us we? are starting to become a woman and you should be brave and you should not be shy or ashamed of yourself.”

It gives me great joy when I see our girls developing confidence to lead projects that support menstrual hygiene. Girls like Ziopprah teach boy/girl cohorts at her school to make reusable sanitary pads that keep girls in school during their period.

Keeping girls in school during their period is paramount for global equality and prosperity. On Menstrual Hygiene Day, let’s celebrate the girls overcoming menstrual taboos and not allowing menstruation to hold them back. Let us also celebrate the boy allies who are supporting them!?

In the words of our Uganda Program Director, Geoffrey Kasangaki, MBA, PGD/GLED :

"As a father of two daughters, I am proud to be creating a future where they feel comfortable in their bodies and empowered to continue learning regardless of 'their time of the month.' I am also raising my son to support their sisters, friends, and a future wife as an ally and support partner. This is a source of great hope for me."?

Erna Grasz is the CEO of Asante Africa Foundation . She can be reached at [email protected] .

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