Dignity for Girls

Dignity for Girls: Helping girls build a better future

Imagine not having any sanitary protection when your period starts. Perhaps you don't even have knickers. No one has taught you about menstruation. Your school toilets don't have water and the doors don't close properly.

That's the reality for too many girls in the world's poorest countries. That's why we are developing a toolkit on girls and menstrual health for faith schools. As part of this, we consulted Christian and Muslim groups in Uganda earlier this year – the first time they had been engaged on this issue.

Their response was overwhelmingly positive. They recognised the importance of this issue to girls' health, wellbeing and education, and they endorsed the idea of a toolkit for faith schools. See below for more of the findings from our workshops.

I used to think  this issue was not  important.
Now I know it is very, very  important. We must  break the silence  on menstruation  
and keep girls  in school.
Balinda Sirag, Uganda Muslim Youth Assembly

Cultures must have a purpose that make us flourish... we need to create beautiful, wonderful cultures for women and men. As missionary ladies went door to door, church schools
should be exemplary places of
teaching dignity and hygiene.

Rev Canon Diana Nkesiga,  All Saints Cathedral, Kampala

Girls' biggest challenges

We consulted 162 Christian and Muslim schoolgirls aged 11-13 to understand better what their greatest challenges, worries and concerns were about their menstruation. Although the group was fairly small, it produced some interesting results.

62% of girls say school toilets are too crowded, dirty and lack water for washing
56% say they can't afford sanitary protection
46% worry about boys making fun of them
41% did not know what was happening when their first period started
40% say they are not taught about menstruation

Download the report of our Uganda faith consultations

We consulted 162 schoolgirls, 83 faith leaders, teachers and educationalists and 115 members of faith women's groups, holding nine workshops in both urban and rural areas.

Angela Nakafeero, Gender Technical Advisor at Uganda's Ministry of Education, Science, Technology  and Sports, was a keynote speaker and said: 'We are aware that over half of our schools are founded by religious groups. We are looking   forward to this  toolkit for religious schools. It is very exciting for us. We feel that this contribution will complement some of our interventions.’

You can access the full report of our menstrual health workshops with Ugandan faith groups by clicking here. (NB: This is a 4.3MB document.)

Fear, ignorance and stigma

Girls were very worried about being mocked by boys over menstruation – particularly girls in rural schools. Overall, 46% of girls said this was one of their biggest concerns but this figure leapt to 73% of rural girls.

Another major problem is ignorance and misunderstanding about menstruation. A high proportion – 41% – said they had no idea what is happening when their period started. A quarter of them thought they were suffering from a terrible disease at the time, and 13% still think menstruation is a disease. In addition:

39% believe used menstrual cloths attract evil spirits
38% think menstrual blood contains harmful substances
35% believe that if their menstrual cloth is burned, they will become barren.

Images from our Uganda workshops

MHM poster presentation

Faith in Water was invited to submit a poster presentation to the 5th Annual Virtual Conference on Menstrual Hygiene Management. We focused on the response of girls in our Uganda workshops. You can check out our poster presentation here.

‘We need to  break the silence on menstruation, just as we did  on HIV/AIDS.’ – Participant,  Faith Leaders’  Conference

‘Religious leaders need to share this and own it.’ – Participant, Faith Leaders’ Conference

‘Menstruation is a   gift. God has elected  us as co-creators  and blessed is the  fruit of our womb.’  
– Rev Canon Diana Nkesiga,  All Saints Cathedral