Wednesday, May 28, 2025, the BLP team, in collaboration with ASDEPCO, hosted a transformative workshop on Menstrual Hygiene Management at CBC Menda, Mile 3 school campus, Nkwen with the aim to foster a period-friendly environment under the 2025 global theme: Together for a Period-Friendly World.
This was an open interactive session with school pupils and staff on discussions about the menstrual cycle, the importance of self-awareness, and addressing the emotional, physical, and material needs during menstruation. By creating a safe space for dialogue, the workshop empowered young girls to embrace their identity with pride and confidence while sensitizing boys to challenge stigma and support their peers.
A key focus of the workshop was addressing the common challenges young girls face in managing their periods, such as lack of access to sanitary products, inadequate facilities, and societal taboos. Advocating for affordable menstrual products and period-friendly infrastructure in schools and communities. Educating young boys about menstruation is critical to dismantling harmful stereotypes and fostering empathy. By understanding the biological and emotional aspects of menstruation, boys are better equipped to support their peers and reject shaming or stigmatizing behaviors. As one participant noted, “Learning about periods helps us see it’s normal, not something to laugh at or hide.”
The success of the workshop at CBC Menda marks a significant step in breaking menstrual stigma in Bamenda. By empowering young girls to take pride in their bodies and equipping boys with the knowledge to be allies,
As we reflect on World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025, we are reminded about the importance to transform attitudes and creating a world where menstruation is no longer a barrier but a celebrated part of life. Together, we are nurturing a generation of confident, informed, and empowered young women and men. The school administration welcomed this workshop and appreciated the distribution of Sanitary pads by BLP to some 150 young girls as part of n ongoing annual campaign creating awareness and education about menstrual Hygiene and period poverty.
For more information about BLP’s initiatives, visit our website www.brightlightprojects.org
#PeriodFriendlyWorld #MenstrualHygieneDay2025 #EndPeriodPoverty #BreakTheStigma #BLPforChange #EducateToEmpower
