Recognizing the negative impacts of silence around menstruation on millions of women and girls who see their monthly cycle, Hope Spring Water Charity Foundation set out to take action to break the silence and demystify she of the myths and taboos normally associated with menstruation.

Hope Spring Water Charity Foundation held menstrual hygiene management workshops in 10 schools across 5 locations in Nigeria. The revelations and feedbacks gathered from these workshops were overwhelming and buttresses the need for everyone, everywhere to join hands to end period poverty.

The schools engaged in the workshop and their locations are as listed below:

• Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
  • Solid Rock International School, Lugbe, Abuja
  • Federal Junior Secondary School, Sheda, Kwali, Abuja

• Ogun State
  • Ajuwon Junior and Senior Secondary School, Ogun

• Enugu State
  • Trans-Ekulu Girls Secondary School, Enugu
  • Metropolitan Girls Secondary School, Enugu

• Nsukka
  • Community Secondary School, Umundu, Nsukka

• Lagos State
  • Hill Star International College, Mushin, Lagos
  • Peace Promise International School
  • Nawair-ud-Deen Comprehensive College, Mushin, Lagos
  • Amazing Foundation School, Lagos

The menstrual hygiene workshops at the federal Capital Territory, was held in two schools, and facilitated by 5 Hope Spring team members. The total number of participants from both schools were over 1,000, including teachers and non-teaching staff of the schools. 1,000 pads were distributed to participants. The key event highlights were the first menstruation experiences shared by students and their challenges in school, which is mainly lack of a safe toilet and water to help them maintain their dignity during menstruation.

Enugu State (and Nsukka)

The team of twelve Hope Spring team members and partners facilitated menstrual hygiene management workshops in three schools in Enugu State. The workshops had in attendance, a total of over 5,500 participants who were directly and indirectly imparted. The key highlights taken from the events was the suggestion by teachers at different workshops for a pad-bank to be instituted in schools, where sanitary pads will be stored to aid students who menstruate during school hours. 3,000 Lady care sanitary pads were distributed.

Partners:

• Global Health Awareness Research Foundation (GHARF)
• That Fearless Girl Initiative

Ogun State

Hope Spring team members and partners commemorated the menstrual hygiene day in Ogun State, by facilitating and organizing workshop in Ajuwon Junior and Secondary School, with the common goal of ensuring the girl child flow with pride. The key challenge pointed out by most students was the high cost of sanitary pads, which makes it unaffordable for most of them. A total of over 900 participants were in attendance at the workshop, which was facilitated by 5 team members from Hope Spring and Hameedat Poverty Relief Foundation. The teachers were also not left out and 1,000 lady care sanitary pads were distributed.

Partner:

• Hameedat Poverty Relief Foundation

Lagos State

The commercial city of Lagos was not left out of the menstrual hygiene day celebration. Hope Spring team and partner (including the Lady Care team), held menstrual hygiene management workshop in 4 different schools, in Mushin area of Lagos State. The workshops had in attendance over 800 participants and 1,000 Lady Care sanitary pads were distributed.

Partner:

• Impact her Initiative