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We have already developed and implemented an educational programme around the management of menstrual cycle and feminine hygiene within our own school community and in Lesotho. We want to encourage more open dialogue around these areas, and make the topic less taboo. We hope to tackle issues such as equality, climate change by encouraging the use reusable pads, and also improving education.
Our Social Issue
Our team has chosen to address period poverty in Lesotho and the overall lack of education around the management of the menstraul cycle and the importance of feminine hygiene.
Why We Chose It
We saw first hand in Lesotho the affect of lack of education and lack of basic sanitation facilities on the education of young girls. We also recognised the impact of period poverty in Lesotho and at home in Ireland, and how the current management of periods is not sustainable and impacts the environment negatively.
Our Goal
We have two main goals. One was the promotion of education around management of the menstrual cycle (all genders), while removing the stigma and secondly to promote a more sustainable approach in terms of sanitary products. We have developed resusable pads to supply to schools in Lesotho. We also want to teach the students and teachers in Lesotho to make these pads for themselves.
Our Innovative Action
We have designed, developed and have started making washable, reusable pads out of fabrics which we aim to bring to Lesotho. We have also developed a set of class plans centred around education into the management of the menstrual cycle. We have taught these lessons to our current first year class groups during their SPHE classes. We have also taught these lessons in Lesotho and will again in March 2024.
Our Impact
Through our education programme, we feel that we have helped to remove some of the stigma that still exists around this topic and made students more aware of their bodies and hopefully more open and comfortable to seek help and guidance if needed. We have donated sanitary products to a women's shelter in Dublin and also to schools in Lesotho.