Back to School: The Story of Elisy and Her Group
Girls miss school in Malawi due to problems with their periods. One teenager – Elisy – and her group from Chasembe got her community to work together to build a new, clean washroom. This gave them a space to change with dignity and privacy, encouraging four girls who had dropped out of school to come back and continue their education.
School drop-out is a big problem for young girls living in rural and remote areas across the globe. According to UNESCO, one in 10 girls in Africa will miss school when they have their periods. Many are compelled to stay home, missing valuable educational opportunities and falling behind in their studies.
The teenage girls attending the Chasembe community health group identified the dropouts as one of the biggest problems young women face in their community. There is a lack of private, single-sex spaces where the girls can clean themselves and wash up at their school. This leaves little choice but to stay at home whilst menstruating.
Having to miss 5 days of school a month, unlike their male counterparts, perpetuates the cycle of inequality that leads to many girls facing economic hardship, early marriage and teenage pregnancy.
After meeting with their community health group, where they discuss the barriers to good sexual and reproductive health, the girls realized something. They could act to stop the school dropout. They were empowered to address the issue of having no space to change their sanitary towels.
Group member Elisy together with the 4 girls who returned to school.
Elisy, one of the young women attending the community health group set up by Women and Children First, led the initiative. The groups’ proposed solution was building a washroom – a private space for young girls to ensure they can change their sanity towels and wash themselves in private.
Elisy and the girls brought this to the chief of the village, seeking his approval for the building work to go ahead. He was impressed with the confidence and commitment of the group and said, “What the girls say is important is important.”
The washroom was built. With 3 walls, a door and a roof to create a changing room, giving young women privacy and dignity during their periods at school. This encouraged 4 of the teenage girls who had dropped out of education to come back and carry on their studies.
Elisy said, “I am very happy the group has taught me a lot of things. Right now, I am a very confident girl, I am able to speak up for myself in public.”
Wandisanga Kayira, The Programme Manager from our local in-country partner, MaiKhanda, says, “This demonstrates the transformative power of community-driven initiatives when fuelled by a genuine desire to uplift the lives of those most in need. The washroom shows unparalleled dedication to improving the lives of young girls in the area, and the village chief is proud of their achievements”.
This summer 231 new groups are being formed, encouraging over 5,000 more teenage girls to come up with the solutions to their sexual and reproductive health barriers that are holding them back.
The Innovations in Health, Rights and Development, or iHeard, project aims to contribute to the reduction of barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescent girls and young women in Malawi. It is led by a consortium of: CODE, Farm Radio International, & MSI Reproductive Choices and is funded by the Government of Canada.