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The menstrual hygiene kits we have promoted in Wolaita (Ethiopia) are restoring dignity to thousands of girls and young women who previously hated being female when they had their period. Now, thanks to the Ayuda en Acción project, they are regaining their dignity in the form of rights and opportunities for the present and the future.
Menstruation in rural Ethiopia: a reason for not moving forward
In rural Ethiopia, menstruation is not just a physical experience. It is often a reason for shame, silence, and missed opportunities.
In many communities in Wolaita, girls who menstruate are still considered impure. They are often excluded from daily life, forbidden from cooking, serving food, or even attending school. Some are forced to stay home for days, missing valuable class time and falling behind their male classmates. In addition, the sudden onset of menstruation at school can mean humiliation, ridicule, or harassment. For some, even this natural event can mean their last day in the classroom.
For a long time, girls have depended on pieces of cloth to manage their periods, an unsafe and uncomfortable practice rooted in tradition. Ayuda en Acción is changing this situation through projects that strengthen schools with training, infrastructure, latrine construction, and educational awareness.
Reusable pads and education
In 2023, in collaboration with the MELA for Her organization (meaning “solution for her”), hygiene kits including reusable pads, soap, and menstrual health education were provided to nine schools in Wolaita.
Beyond supplies, girls' clubs were created to provide safe spaces where girls can learn, share, and support each other openly, helping to break the cycle of silence and shame.
It is important to note that reusable sanitary pads in Ethiopia can cost around 150 birr per set (almost one euro), so in many households they are still considered a luxury item. This economic barrier means that many girls cannot afford adequate menstrual hygiene products without assistance, highlighting the critical role of projects like this in improving access and changing social perceptions.
For now, the program is limited to nine schools, but the need and demand are growing. Expansion to more schools in the region will depend on future funding. Because this is not just about hygiene: it is about breaking the silence, about rewriting what it means to be a girl in rural Ethiopia. It is about giving young women the opportunity to stay in school, dream big, and proudly say, “I am a woman and I am not ashamed.”
