This text is part of the special section on International Cooperation
Thanks to the support of Crossroads International, young students from Niakaramandougou, in Côte d’Ivoire, were able to receive a kit of washable sanitary napkins produced locally. Beyond the fight against menstrual precariousness, this project also aims to raise community members’ awareness of issues of gender, equality and sexual and reproductive health.
“In sub-Saharan Africa, one girl in ten misses several days of school because she is menstruating,” explains Marlyatou Dosso, head of programming in Côte d’Ivoire for Crossroads International, a Canadian organization for international cooperation that works for of equality and the eradication of poverty in Africa. “I think the statistics are not very accurate and they are much higher than that”, she notes however. In Côte d’Ivoire, even if school is free and compulsory up to the age of 16, there are many barriers to schooling for young girls.
“In secondary school, we see that half of the girls who are no longer there often, it’s because it’s too expensive to buy a pack of sanitary napkins, sold here at 500 CFA francs (about $1), or the same price as the kilo of rice. When there is a choice to be made, the parents buy what is needed to feed the family…” adds the humanitarian worker.
Fight against menstrual poverty
In order to remedy these shortcomings and prevent young girls from resorting to dangerous and unhygienic methods during their menstruation, Crossroads International recently supported a unique project launched by the Women’s Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Côte d’Ivoire (CEFCI). “The objective of this was to create a small production unit for washable sanitary napkins to fight against the menstrual precariousness of young girls at the Henri Konan Bédié municipal high school, while creating employment for vulnerable women in Niakaramandougou” , remembers Marlyatou Dosso, who, with her team, was immediately seduced by the idea. “Our goal is not to replace our partners, but to strengthen their capacities”, she insists.
Thus, between 2020 and 2021, thanks to the cooperation between Crossroads International and the CEFCI, a trainer was able to travel to this region in the north-east of the country, neighboring Burkina Faso, to teach sewing to the participants. After setting up a dedicated room and installing sewing machines, the latter were able to make some 675 menstrual kits, including four washable and reusable sanitary napkins, which were finally distributed to high school girls.
Deconstruct taboos
Moreover, the project has made it possible to raise awareness among young girls in Niakaramandougou about puberty and the passage from childhood to adolescence, and in particular about the issue of menstrual hygiene, which is still taboo. These discussions also generated conversations around sexual and reproductive health, but also on the issue of abortion. “Côte d’Ivoire is the country in West Africa with the highest rate of pregnancy in schools”, underlines Marlyatou Dosso. Hence the importance of addressing issues of the menstrual cycle, sex and gender equality, and communicating about ways to avoid getting pregnant with all members of the community — students, teachers, parent-teacher associations, members of the Education Council.
“To do this, we contacted the school authorities so that they could take ownership of this project. Since they are key stakeholders, they need to be able to understand the process,” says Marlyatou Dosso. According to her, the infrastructures must take into account the specific needs of adolescent girls, for example by offering them reserved toilets. “For eight months, in Niakaramandougou, we also met young boys, because the goal was to lift the taboo around menstruation,” she continues.
While this inclusive initiative is now over for Crossroads International, the fact remains that the new seamstresses still have access to their equipment and continue to manufacture sanitary napkins. “Our CEFCI partners can now rely on this pilot project to replicate it in other regions and have it spread everywhere,” says Marlyatou Dosso proudly. And to conclude: “We have proof that our employees have innovative ideas that they execute from start to finish with professionalism. The results are convincing! »
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, relating to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.