Monrovia – A not-for-profit organization called Sister for Sister has distributed sanitary kits to school-going girls in the Memeh Town Community, lower Montserrado County. Speaking during the distribution of the kits, the head of the organization Janice Smallwood Malekebu said, it is a campaign that was started by her partner “Liberty Project” to keep girls who are having their menstrual circles in school.
Report by Asata Dukuly, Intern [email protected]
She explained that a lot of girls during their menstrual cycle stay out of school because of the lack of adequate protective sanitary pad, thereby, hindering the learning process. She asserted that the girls can be afraid of their clothes being stained and being laughed at, as a result, they will stay away from school. Madam Malekebu said her institution work directly with women and girl’s health and empowerment.
She was happy to collaborate with the Liberty Project on educating girls about their menstrual cycle and hygienic practices so as to keep them in school. “We know that most girls of menstruating age menstruate four to five days a month; if you have to stay out of school four to five days, imagine how much education you will miss, that is about three months a year,” she stated. About 22 kits were distributed, promising to bring more. She promised that women will be educated on how to make sanitary pads which will allow every young girl access it.
She also said all of the initiatives are self -sponsored. She called on other non-governmental institutions, government agencies as well as individuals to support their work so that other communities can also benefit. Also speaking, Allison Clare Farngolo based in the United Kingdom and heading the Liberty Project, praised Sister for Sister and expressed joy in working with the organization to help women and girls through their programs. Madam Farngolo noted that when she came to visit her husband’s family 2016, she saw the problem and decided to assist women and girls through making and distribution of sanitary pads along with other forms of empowerment. “I named the project “Liberty Project” because I want women to go about their normal day work without worrying menses.” She promised to work with Sister for Sister in empowering more women and girls especially when it has to do with hygienic education. Musu G. Siryon, women chairlady of the Memeh Town, appreciated the organizations for empowering women because, according to her, a lot of the women had no knowledge of making soap, chloral and sanitary pads. She said the skills acquired will help them impact their lives which will enable them to start earning something for themselves instead of sitting home all without doing anything. The chairman of Memeh Varfee A. Jomah said the women are very appreciative of the program noting that it will help reduce the abuses against women. He further stated that once women are empowered, men cannot take advantage of them. He called on other institutions to empower both men and women in rural communities through skills instead of waiting for political season.