Girl Power!

School gender clubs empower adolescent girls and boys with knowledge and relevant skills. Strengthening these clubs also helps to end school-related gender-based violence and improve school attendance. In Ethiopia, UNICEF with support from the European Union, is working to create child friendly school clubs, where boys and girls discuss a range of issues including menstrual health and hygiene. 

Turufat, 15 years old, is the main leader of the club at Gato Yanda Primary School in Southern Ethiopia. She is proud, strong and determined. “Before this programme, there was nowhere to change our sanitary pads and now we have our own room,” she said. “This means that girls stay in school when they are menstruating, and school is where we belong.”

The gender club educates girls about menstrual cycles and trains them on how to use sanitary pads. Arformia (right) is very happy to be a member of the club, and she has not started her cycle. “Because of the advice given from the girls, I am not scared to have my period and I feel very prepared,” she said.

The gender club educates boys as well. 14-year-old, Mintesenot was taught about menstruation, and he helps distribute pads with the club members to girls in the school and the community. “I tell other boys what I have learnt about menstruation, that it is natural, and they should not be scared or make fun of the girls,” he said. “I am really proud to be part of this club and help the girls overcome any challenges.”

Members of the gender club also educate girls, boys and families on the perils of early marriage.  They saved Mestawot (middle) from marrying a complete stranger when she was 17 years old. “My family wanted to marry me off as they believed they would get money,” said Mestawot. “But then the girls came to my rescue. I am so grateful”.

But stopping Mestawot’s forced marriage wasn’t easy. “We heard rumors that a girl was being forced into marriage, so we went into the community to find her,” said Tidyan, a member of the gender club. “We met with Mestawot, and she wanted us to help. So, we visited her family, but they did not want to listen.”

But the girls were determined to save Mestawot and get her back into school. “We met with community elders,” said Tidyan beaming with pride. “They then came with us and helped persuade the family to stop the marriage and send Mestawot back to school.”

School gender clubs are changing the narrative and empowering girls to speak out, to be heard and to grow up safely from harmful practices. The clubs are paving the way for girl power!