The United States Government Exchange Alumni Association, Nigeria (USGEAA), a non-profit organization, has taught more than 100 Ondo State secondary school girls how to create reusable sanitary pads and manage their menstruation.
Speaking at the training, Yemisi Jeff-Agboola, the Team Exchange Project Manager and Financial Secretary of the US Government Exchange Alumni Association, explained that the program’s goal was to teach girls in Ondo State’s secondary schools how to make reusable sanitary towel pads in order to address menstrual health issues that affect women and girls in the Igoba community. We concentrate on female pupils in secondary education.
In an effort to empower underprivileged girls and women as well as students, we also provide sanitary towels to them.
“Team Exchange is a combination of different alumni members of US government exchange programs selected to run this type of unique project in South-West Nigeria.
We have invited trainers to teach the community and schoolgirls how to make sanitary towel pads because most people can no longer afford the expensive disposable sanitary towels. We are not using expensive materials for the production of the sanitary towels because we want the program to be sustainable. “Our aim is to target five schools; we sought 10 students from each school. So the number of secondary students and the community women and girls in total is 100 selected for the enlightenment program in Ondo State.”
She requested support from the state government through a grassroots empowerment initiative, the state ministries of women’s affairs, education, health, and informational orientation to spread the word about this wonderful and commendable project.
The speaker expressed her desire for the government to collaborate with them in bringing the initiative to the villages in Ondo State. She stated that they are prepared to go farther with the help of their sponsors. Because buying disposable sanitary towels is extremely expensive, we have taught the women and girls how to create reusable sanitary towels, pad washing techniques, and self-care techniques for when their periods arrive.
We therefore anticipate that following the training, the participants will return to their local communities and educational institutions to further their own education. They may even launch small enterprises, which will boost our economy. They ought to put what we have taught them into practice and execute it well.