- What if you had to miss school or work because you did not have access to proper menstrual supplies?
- How many days per year would you lose in education and wages simply because you got your period?
- What if no one ever taught you about menstruation?
This is the situation for more than 500 million women and girls worldwide*. A recent survey shows that upwards of 43% of Haitian women and girls did not know what menstruation was until they got their first period.
To address this situation at the AGHS, we have worked with a focus group of 12 students over several months. The girls have trialled various types of sanitary wear and at the end of the trial, they told us which product they preferred. We were delighted that they chose a product made by Haiti Projects, based in Fond des Blancs, made with Haitian resources, by Haitian women. This is great for our students and also for the artisans at Haiti Projects and the Haitian economy.
Because of your generosity, we have been able to supply every female student and faculty member with their own period pack made by Haiti Projects. This includes everything they need to manage their periods in a safe, sustainable, convenient way, and as the pads are washable, they will last for up to 3 years before they need to be replaced.
As with everything, knowledge is power. Access to timely, accurate health information is critical, and therefore the team at AGHS will be giving ongoing comprehensive menstrual health education, to the girls, boys, and wider community.
Thank you for continuing to support us. Your donations mean that we can offer additional projects such as this, which make such an impact.
*The World Bank 2018
