In Timor-Leste WASH in schools is supporting menstrual health in and out of the classroom
Boys and girls learning about menstrual health and hygiene as part of WaterAid Australia's WASH in Schools program in Timor-Leste (WaterAid Timor-Leste)
Menstrual health is key to girls' health and wellbeing and achieving gender equality, however in Timor-Leste, there is limited education on menstrual health and negative social norms that limit girls' and women’s choices and opportunities are often perpetuated.
To address this, WaterAid integrates menstrual health and hygiene into their WASH in schools program in schools in Manufahi and Liquica. This work is part of WaterAid's Water for Women project, beyond Inclusion: realising gender transformational change and sustainable wash systems, supported by the Australian Government.
Along with partner organisations, WaterAid facilitates education sessions with school leadership, staff, and students around WASH hygiene behaviors, including menstrual health and hygiene education. WASH in schools supports a whole-of-school approach, ensuring teachers are empowered to support students with menstrual health both in, and out of the classroom, and challenge negative menstrual health social norms.
The change this has created is positive, as one teacher remarks, “the bathroom is really good, before they were not clean, and we didn’t have separate bathrooms for boys and girls. Girls would realise they were menstruating in the middle of class and they would go home because of their menstruation. Many girls live far from the school so they would not return to class.”
This initiative in schools is underpinned by a ‘do no harm’ approach to mitigate against resistance and backlash, which can occur due to concern and resistance to education including sexual and reproductive rights and the view menstrual health is women's business.
Water for Women is transforming WASH systems to empower women, girls and gender diverse people, including those with disabilities, by shifting stigma and harmful norms and strengthening access to menstrual hygiene friendly sanitation and products. Which has a profound impact on a person’s health and wellbeing, educational, social and economic opportunities.
We are committed to ending period poverty by 2030.
Read our #MHDay2022 Insight:
The hard and soft of committing to menstrual health and hygiene in WASH
#WeAreCommitted to ensuring equitable and safe access to menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) resources for all who need them.
Water for Women is transforming WASH systems to empower women, girls and gender diverse people, including those with disabilities, by shifting stigma and harmful norms and strengthening access to menstrual hygiene friendly sanitation and products.
This also contributes to equitable social, educational, economic and recreational opportunities for all.
#WeAreCommitted to ending period poverty by 2030.
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