Boys break menstrual bounds | UNICEF Malawi

Ndeula finds it incredible that boys such as Acted are helping girls stay in school.

“There are about 1,000 boys at our school. If all of them spoke with one voice and undivided conviction, no girl would learn in fear or skip classes due to menstrual health gaps. The male champions convince me that my daughter, who is in Acted’s class, is safe,” says the 45-year-old mother of four.

The mother group works closely with teachers and parents to ensure every child learns. Their focus is firmly on protecting girls disproportionately at risk of quitting school too early due to early pregnancy and marriages fueled by poverty, harmful cultural practices and community indifference.

“After the training, we met all boys and girls as well as parents to explain to them the changes that happen during puberty and how they can support each other instead of making schools harsh for adolescent girls. I am glad they heed the call to help keep their sisters in school,” she states.

Looking back, she says, “During my girlhood days in the 1990s, when I was a learner here at Mfera, I used to miss classes for five days every month because it was unacceptable for girls to mix with peers and elders during the periods freely.

“We were required to say nothing and stay home. If teachers discovered that we were menstruating, they found it normal to send us home saying we were unclean.”

This is changing with increased awareness, male engagement and access to safe spaces such as changing rooms.

“It is encouraging that both boys and girls talk about it freely and support one another. The fading of secrecy associated with menstruation can only benefit the girls at risk of dropping out of school due to the natural body changes,” she states.

Adolescent girls at Mfera Primary School received five reusable sanitary pads each. Just like that, they discarded the discomforting cloths mostly used by those who could not afford a pack of single-use commercial pads sold at K800 to K1,000 in shops.

“The support from boys, who treat us with dignity, helps us learn in peace. They have become our brothers, not enemies,” says Bridget Banda.

The 18-year-old classmate of Acted stopped schooling for three days after being booed by boys when she experienced her first menstruation in class three years ago. Later, she frequently missed classes when the monthly periods kicked in.

Acted shudders to imagine seeing his sister being shamed similarly.

 “I happily do my part hoping Zahara will find a better place than what my classmate found before our teachers and the mother group taught us to treat girls fairly so that they don’t feel shy or afraid to come to school,” he says.