Time to Help (UK) recently organised an event titled “Period Poverty and Its Impact on Women’s Education in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
The event featured a panel of experts from different fields, including education, public health, and development, who shared their insights and experiences on how period poverty affects women’s education in sub-Saharan Africa. The panellists discussed possible solutions and strategies to address this issue.
Dr Jennifer Martin, an award-winning researcher, technical specialist, and activist, spoke about the stigmas around period poverty and its impact on women’s health. Carrington Baker, the founder of For Women By Women, Period, shared her experience of fighting period poverty and changing the stigma around menstruation within different cultures and for the next generation. Ibrahim Yunus, a distinguished individual passionate about education and charitable work, spoke about how period poverty affects women’s education.
According to a UNESCO report, one in ten girls in sub-Saharan Africa misses school during their menstrual cycle, translating to about 20% of their school year. The lack of access to menstrual products and facilities and the stigma associated with menstruation can make girls feel embarrassed and ashamed, leading them to miss school or drop out altogether. This can have long-term consequences for their education, economic opportunities, and overall well-being.
Time to Help (UK) is a non-profit organisation that aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Their programs focus on areas such as education, health, water and sanitation, and livelihoods. They are committed to promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls, and they believe that access to education and menstrual health and hygiene are fundamental to achieving these goals.
The event was informative and inspiring as it provided insights into the challenges faced by women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa and the possible solutions to address them. The panellists’ experiences and expertise showcased the importance of collaboration and innovative approaches to combat period poverty and promote gender equality.
Overall, the event was a reminder of the urgent need to address period poverty and its impact on women’s education in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. It highlighted the importance of taking action to ensure that every woman and girl has access to menstrual products, facilities, and education, to promote their well-being and empower them to reach their full potential.
Speakers:
Jennifer Martin
Jennifer is an award-winning researcher, technical specialist, and activist with over 13 years of experience in public health programmes focusing on issues relating to gender equality, health innovation and technology, srhr, complex stakeholder engagement, and business. Jenni is a dedicated activist; she has advocated for menstrual health since 2014 through grassroots initiatives and global programmes. She founded women in global health Finland, is committed to supporting early career professionals to break into the global health market, and is a mentor to several young women worldwide. She has a NIHR-funded PhD in Public Health from the University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and a master’s from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Carrington Baker
Carrington Baker is a recent college graduate from St. John’s University, where she majored in Psychology and minored in Biology. Currently, she is researching new medications to treat various mental health disorders. She is preparing for medical school and plans to enrol in Fall 2024 to become an OBGYN. Carrington founded For Women By Women, Period (FWBW.) in 2021 during her junior year at St John’s University. She needed to fight period poverty because 1 in 5 young menstruators would miss school due to the lack of access to menstrual products. Since starting FWBW., Carrington and her team have distributed 90,000+ products across the New York City and New Jersey areas.
Along with providing menstrual products to low-income individuals, FWBW. plans to teach proper menstrual and reproductive health education to younger menstruators. For Women By Women, Period continues to end the stigma around periods.
Ibrahim Yunus
Ibrahim Yunus is a distinguished individual passionate about education and charitable work. Alongside his academic pursuits, he also serves as the Chair of a charity that aims to help young girls in Tanzania. With a Ph.D. in Education, which he is currently pursuing from the University of Dar es Salaam, Mr. Yunus is committed to furthering his knowledge in the field of education. He has also obtained a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education, Massachusetts, USA, in 2020. Besides his academic achievements, Mr. Yunus has also been recognised for his exceptional leadership skills. He was selected as the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s Global Schools Program Ambassador for 2023 and a Mwalimu Nyerere Pan African Young Leader Fellow in 2022. In 2022, he also graduated from the US State Department’s Africa Civic Engagement Academy (ACEA) and has been a Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni since 2018, having completed the program at Kansas State University.