How girls – and boys! – are busting period myths in 5 countries around the world
I was afraid that I was sick or had a disease. I was afraid there was something wrong with me. Anonymous, Indonesia What happens when a girl gets her period depends largely on where she lives. For some, it is a day for celebration. But for girls who live in places where menstruation is taboo, it can be a agonizing introduction to adolescence.…, 1. Afghanistan: Breaking taboos, Two girls sit next to a woman holding a book, Afghanistan Two girls attend a menstrual hygiene management counselling session at a school in Herat, Afghanistan. No meat, no rice, no vegetables, no sour foods, no drinking cold water, no sitting on wet ground, and no washing. These are some of the common myths surrounding menstruation in Afghanistan…, 2. Bangladesh: Getting your period in a refugee camp, Girls in this refugee camp in Bangladesh are part of the Sanimart project. Through the project they have learned to make their own pads to use themselves and sell in the market. Getting a period in a crowded refugee camp is not easy for teenage girls and women. Menstruation supplies are hard to come by, as are safe and private toilets to wash…, 3. Ethiopia: School clubs dispel misconceptions, A girl smiles, Ethiopia "I asked myself 'What is happening?' I didn't know how to tell my family but my mom saw the blood stain on my dress and she was the one who explained it to me. At the moment though, I lacked so much confidence, I don't know why." – Kuri Tenkolu, 16, Sheno, Ethiopia More than half of adolescent girls in Ethiopia don’t…, 4. Ghana: Empowering girls through education, Students stand outside a school classroom, Ghana Millicent (left) stands with her friends outside of their classroom. “It happened one morning in early August. I was sitting in class trying to concentrate on a lesson.” says Millicent, 13. “Finally, it was time to go home. Only one problem, my chair felt damp. I got up really slowly and noticed it…, 5. Indonesia: Not just a girl’s issue, A boy reads a book about menstruation, Indonesia A student reads through the girls' side of the comic book, which was developed to teach both boys and girls about menstruation. Like in many other countries, menstruation is a taboo topic in Indonesia. Many girls do not learn about it from their mothers or teachers, and find out it on the day of…
