Our last day in Dang with our new friends from CP Nepal was bittersweet. We are so lucky that we had the chance to meet with another group of girls in the Adolescent Health Teaching program- our third of the week!
This time, the session was held at a local school in Dang. These girls had already finished all of the sessions and it was clear from the get-go how much knowledge they had accumulated! We took this opportunity to explore the topics they were most interested in. Menstruation and pregnancy were the two heavy hitters once again! From what we had seen over the week, these two topics seemed to really resonate with the girls. Some questions that came up included differences in menstrual patterns, time of ovulation and risk of pregnancy, how twins are formed, intersex people, and non-heterosexual relationships. The girls kept us on our toes with their insightful and sometimes very specific questions, but our team worked together to answer them as best as we could!
We also took the opportunity to ask them questions about their experience in the program. Our students told us they loved all the topics covered in the Adolescent Health program, pregnancy and menstruation especially. It was interesting to hear how at first it was difficult for them to talk about periods (similar to the new group we had met a few days earlier) but now they could talk freely about it without fear of judgment.
Though they do have some
form of reproductive health education in school, these lessons are often taught by male instructors, predominantly textbook-based, and are not catered towards the specific needs and interests of the girls. According to the girls, these Adolescent Health Teaching sessions have provided them with a space to ask questions and explore topics in much more detail. We asked if they had told anyone else about the program and almost everyone raised their hand, eagerly describing how they had shared what they had learned with their mothers, aunts and friends. Many new girls have since joined the program after spotting the vibrant pink T-shirts and listening to such positive testimonies. While we were ecstatic to hear how well-received the program has been, we also wanted to understand what could be improved upon. Almost unanimously, the girls agreed that STIs were a difficult and confusing topic to learn about. We took note of the topics that the girls either found confusing or wanted to learn more about, keeping in mind that we would need to continue adapting our program to meet the needs and interests of our students!
After the session, our Sexual and Reproductive Health team met with Sita at UNAKO House. After a week of moving around the district and meeting many new faces, it was comforting
to chat one-on-one with Sita, who had become a very good friend.
We had many questions for our very talented Adolescent Health Educator as to how we could continue supporting her and the program. Working together, we brainstormed a list of topics that could be expanded upon in future lessons, including consent, vaginal health, pregnancy myths, and abortion laws. We also spoke candidly about sexual harassment and assault, which unfortunately is quite common in the region. We were shocked to learn that during some of the Adolescent Health Teaching sessions, girls have come forward with their own experiences. We certainly had mixed feelings about this. Although we were reassured to know that the supportive and safe environment created by Sita was allowing for these difficult discussions, it was a stark reminder of the reason why our project was created and the continual work that needs to be done.
The hardest part of the day was saying goodbye to the wonderful friends we had made in Dang. We all shared many hugs, pictures and promises of return. Words cannot express the gratitude and respect we have for all of the family at CP Nepal who welcomed us with open arms. Their kindness, courage, and determination have become a vital source of inspiration for our team, and we are determined to continue supporting and developing the Adolescent Health Program in collaboration with our new friends.
Dhan'yavāda ra namastē (धन्यवाद र नमस्ते)– thank you and goodbye!
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