May 5th was all about the menstrual cycle! We got to meet a new group of girls during their second sexual and reproductive health session. It was interesting to contrast this group with the previous one, where the girls had already completed all 12 sessions. Initially, the students in the new group were much more timid and were hesitant to speak up. Many topics still felt very foreign to them, and some mentioned that they had never discussed reproductive health like this before. Our session started with a wonderful video featuring Sita and her students, which can be viewed below:
Next, it was time for T-shirts! We handed out Adolescent Health Teaching shirts to a group of very excited girls, and Sita surprised us with our very own to match! Soon enough, all you could see in UNAKO house was a sea of pink! Prior to arriving in Nepal, we had been told that the pink shirts had almost become a sort of symbol in the community. Girls were constantly asking their friends where they had gotten the shirt from, and interest in the program was quickly growing! Standing there in UNAKO house with pink shirts of our own, it was easy to see why– the shirts had helped bring together a community of girls all eager to learn about their own health!
Our next task involved dividing into groups of six. Sita had told us ahead of time that we would be her students for the day, so our team (along with the Sickle Cell Disease team) formed our own group. We talked about what menstruation is and the major dos and don'ts during this time of the month. Working within teams, the girls designed posters and presented them to the rest of the group. It was very interesting to learn about their perspectives of menstruation, with each group bringing in new ideas. Already, we could see the girls starting to open up– it was amazing to watch their confidence grow!
One of the best parts of the day was the sharing of stories. When it comes to periods, especially the first period, things can sometimes get messy and confusing. Both Sita and Agnes recalled the rollercoaster of emotions and events that accompanied their first periods, and we all shared a good laugh. We hoped to emphasize the diversity in experiences with periods, and how things that may seem weird or embarrassing can actually be quite normal and common!
Together with Sita, our team went on to discuss the physiology behind periods and why they happen every month. We handed out pamphlets
and menstrual bracelets to help with the discussion, and went through each step of the cycle with the girls. The process of menstruation can be a complicated concept to grasp at first, but very quickly the girls began to catch on, impressing us with their strong grasp of medical terminology. As we spoke, we placed emphasis on not being afraid or ashamed of having a period and highlighted how it is a natural and beautiful process that helps our bodies prepare to have a baby one day!
We had lots of time for questions and it was during then we realized how insightful and curious these young girls are! They asked about how hormones work and why menstrual cycles differ between people. We also delved into common myths surrounding menstruation in Nepal, such as the idea that girls are “dirty” when on their period. While traditions such as not being able to enter the kitchen or temple during one’s period are still held here, having these types of discussions with young girls is a crucial first step to addressing this stigma.
We ended our day with a menstrual cup tutorial. Even with the language barrier, the girls picked up the steps in no time at all, and soon we split off into groups to practice insertion and removal techniques. While they were very nervous to explore this new concept at first, they slowly began to come out of their shells. Soon enough, girls were teaching one another how to use the menstrual cups and even gave demonstrations themselves!
Being a part of this Adolescent Health Teaching session was just as memorable as the first. In this one session alone, it was clear how much of a positive impact this program has had on the education and confidence of these young girls. None of this would be possible without Sita, our wonderful Sexual and Reproductive Health Educator. Her kindness, determination, and confidence are reflected in the excitement and cleverness of her students. The community that Sita and the girls have created is so special and we feel very lucky to have been a part of it!
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