Spread the Love: Happy Valentine’s Day from PridePads Africa
February is the month of love.
This month, join PridePads Africa in spreading love to girls and women everywhere. Many people around the world experience stigma and ostracization upon their first period. These stigmas and taboos often originate from a lack of education about menstruation.
At PridePads Africa, we provide medically-accurate menstrual health education to women and girls in northern Cameroon. As part of this education, we dispel harmful myths and stigmas and empower students with knowledge about their bodies.
How can you spread the love with the girls and women in your life?
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Promote Menstrual Literacy. Knowledge is power, especially for young women who may be unfamiliar with their bodies. Speaking openly about menstruation and ensuring that girls have age-appropriate resources available to deepen their understanding of the menstrual cycle is critical. We have compiled a reading list here. Consider making or gifting a menstruation bracelet like the one shown here.
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Advocate for Menstrual Equity. According to the Glossary for the Global Menstrual Movement, Menstrual Equity is “the affordability, accessibility, and safety of menstrual products for all people-- including laws and policies-- that acknowledge and consider menstruation. This includes eliminating the luxury tax on menstrual products, providing free menstrual products in schools, and promoting comprehensive sex education.
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Support Menstrual Health Organizations. PridePads Africa provides menstrual health education at local schools and community groups in northern Cameroon. At each of these seminars, we distribute pads free of charge. We are proud to be part of a small but mighty network of organizations dedicated to creating a more period-friendly world. Sharing our work via social media, attending events, and supporting us with donations are all wonderful ways to support the movement.
PridePads Africa strives to end menstrual stigma and create a world in which menstruation is not taboo.
During this month of love, consider making a heartfelt donation to PridePads Africa to promote menstrual literacy in Cameroon. For just $24, you can provide a student with a year’s supply of menstrual pads.
With love,
The PridePads Africa Board of Directors