Staff Reporter
The End Period Poverty (EEP) initiative was formed earlier this year out of an overwhelming desire for boys and men to understand the realities of menstruation, and to discourage them from making fun of girls during their period.
Another pillar on which EPP is premised is to raise awareness about the lack of sanitary care products for some girls in the Katutura East and Central constituencies of the capital, and for men, especially, to contribute towards providing pads for girls, said EPP member Jaliza Jalilie.
Asked about the emphasis on educating men in their campaign, Jalilie said it is deliberate.
“They should understand we can change the narrative that this (menstruation conversations) is taboo. As a matter of fact, EPP, to a very large extent, was an initiative mobilised by a man – Shaun Gariseb – so we can say a man birthed it and it makes us unique,” she explained.
Run by Jalilie, Gariseb, Desiree Beukes, Ambrosius Blockstaan, Simone Nanus, Arthur /Nanub, better known as Damara Dik Ding, and Kelly Hoeseb, the group also aim to collect and distribute pads to girls in need.
They recently made their first donation of over 700 packets of pads to girls at the Goreangab Junior Secondary School.
At the occasion, EPP members gave encouraging advice and guidance to the learners before Windhoek mayor Sade Gawanas, who is also from the area, gave a firm and powerful message on this natural phenomenon.
Placing emphasis on the need to have these conversations, she said “menstruation is normal, and must be understood from a young age by both boys and girls”.
Other schools will get assistance soon from the collection of pads through friends and colleagues. The group members also contribute a small fee monthly to buy pads, and they have boxes placed at churches for congregants to donate.
Jalilie noted that they started the organisation in their constituencies (Katutura East and Central) “because it was long-overdue”, adding “We felt we needed to do something ourselves, us who are from these areas, for our people”.
On a personal note, she said she is proud to be part of something as positive as this in their community, and invited her fellow artists and constituents to join her in making a difference in the lives of the young ones, saying: “We are keeping girls in school, you know!”.
Meanwhile, because sanitary pads are expensive, EPP is planning to teach girls how to sew their own reusable pads.
To assist or make a donation, call Jalilie on 0814403838 or Nanus on 0816041730.