Puberty’s “difficult days”
Between the ages of 11 and 14, girls and boys typically enter puberty. The combined stresses of having their hormones surging, and suddenly becoming fertile cause many children to struggle socially, within their households, and as individuals at this critical time of change. Children in rural areas and schools in developing countries are usually not prepared for this phase of life, family education often fails because of a high sense of shame, and there is no corresponding access to outside information. Puberty hits most girls and boys in Cambodia completely unprepared. When menstruating, girls often do not attend school. Frequently, young girls just entering their menstrual cycles think they are ill and have no place to go and no one to turn to. Critically, girls often have limited knowledge of basic feminine hygiene and inadequate access to period products, such as tampons and sanitary pads.
Lack of information and education in female biology is no small matter regarding unwanted childhood pregnancy.
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Quick Facts
Puberty and Hygiene in Detail
Enlightenment – Workshops
Each set includes a workshop in which we prepare the girls, give them all the important information about the upcoming changes, train them in hygiene, handling and care of the hardware handed out, and inform them about fertility / contraception and diseases.
Hardware – everything you need
Our “set” consists of 3 underpants, 3 washable inserts, a piece of soap, an easy to understand manual for handling and cleaning the items, a resealable plastic bag and a menstrual calendar. Everything is lovingly packed in a colourful fabric bag.
Own production = 5 secure jobs
We make these “sets” ourselves on site. A cooperating local organisation has created a secure job for five women who were previously homeless. Due to the effective and especially sustainable help provided by the sets, including training, more than 1,000 girls were helped in the first year alone. A safe job as long as there are donors who recognize this.
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What we’ve accomplished so far….
Tonle O’m Primary School, Days 4 Girls for 235 girls
