I remeber in myyoung days, discussing your mentrual circle was seenas good manners. Your mother never even called it a menstrueal cycle. She simple asked you ifyou had see your cloth or time. When I was much younger, I will wonder what she meant. Your time or cloth gave the wholeidea of a menstrual cycle a womanly secrecy. We felt funny. When I got intosecondary school, it was globally seen as the curse. Don’t start me off on the dozen or morenames we called that time ofthe month, you hated. The question was never you wanted to discussit with the male folk except when you waited for your father to killl the cockerel to welcome you into an age. It was initiation with a beauty and secrecy that made you feelnot just a woman but understanding the responsibilities attached to attaining puberty. It was an age we seemto have lost. It is a different thing here. The questionthen was not if we could afford the process of ‘looking after our monthly visitor as we also calledit then. Today, I am talking to a young beautiful woman…not about her monthly visitor orthe curse,,,but about something altogether interesting for me. Please meet my firiend
Pamela Elkwachi
You are a Toastmaster, please explain what that means
Toastmasters International is an educational organization that has helped people from
diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators, and leaders.
I was drawn to them after I came across the beautifully crafted and coruscating speech of
the winner of the 2018 World Championship of Public Speaking – Ramona J. Smith; and I went,
“I want to learn how to speak like that!”.
The rest they say is history and my first Toastmasters meeting was my last as a guest at
Sunshine Toastmasters Club Akure. I became a Toastmaster in my quest to polish
my communication skills towards becoming a better leader that galvanises action for change.
I am currently a club officer and serve as Vice President Public Relations for
Sunshine Toastmasters Club.
With the viral videos of blundering public officers making the rounds, I advise that we
don’t have to wait till we are at the peak of our careers or positions of power to start
learning these skills; investing in one’s personal development should always
be given top priority.
2. I am curious about the bead/bracelet story.
Yes. That’s a simple yet powerful symbol for World Menstrual Hygiene Day
coming up on 28th of May. Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is a global platform that
brings together non-profits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector and the
media to catalyze advocacy and action towards a world where women and girls are
longer limited because of their periods.
It’s a menstrual bracelet made with 23 white beads and 5 red beads to signify the average
28 days cycle of periods. 28/5 is also May 28. People are encouraged to make them
wear them and post the pictures on their social media handles with the hashtag
MHDAY2021 to show support that periods are nothing to hide, end period stigma and
advocate for increased access and affordability of menstrual hygiene products
for women and girls around the world.
I am impressed by your comment at a recent lecture of yours whereby you implored the
menfolk to show understanding of the reproductive health of girls. Please explain.
This is a missing link that hasn’t been given much attention as women and girls need to
feel supported on this issue. Men who should be allies usually do not have enough
information on the issue to properly lend a hand. Advocating for equal education
for women and girls, men and boys will ensure that at all stages of life, women and
girls will find supportive partners who can empathise with their situation and render the
necessary support or assistance if it comes to that. The stigma and bullying that
also comes from boys or men especially on the subject of menstruation eg ergh ewwww’s
and snide comments that make women/girls treat their periods with utmost secrecy will
be drastically reduced.
The goal is that girls and women can confidently ask for help from menfolk and
avoid using unhygienic products or poor sanitation infrastructure at the expense
of asking for help.
4. Organizations round the world find it funny that developing countries hardly pay
heed to the economic need to ensure the average young girl can afford a sanitary
towel when the need arises. How can we resolve this?
There needs to be the political will on the path of the government to prioritise
action towards this cause at local and National levels. The Government should
work on creating an enabling environment for investment in this sector to produce
affordable menstrual hygiene products. The condition and standard of existing WASH
facilities in schools, workplaces and public places must be reviewed because this is
an essential element of MHM. You can’t imagine the struggle women go through
and all the opportunities they miss because they cannot comfortably manage their periods
outside of their homes.
The cost of menstrual products keeps rising especially since covid. Pads are taxed like
e luxury items instead of being treated as a necessity and human right.
Condoms are shared freely while a normal biological process is not given the attention
it deserves. MHM is related to SDG’s and is also a Human Right
Ministries of health need to spend development budget on MHM. Some countries
even in developing economies already have National policies on Menstrual
Hygiene and Health Management especially for school girls. Items such as
menstrual products should be subsidised or provided free to school girls as
implemented in some countries; this will ensure they do not miss out on school
and social activities. Investment need to be made in innovation, research and public
education on the issue in addition to supporting the work of NGO’s and private citizens.
A lot of work is ahead but the decision makers are the ones that need to be made
aware of the magnitude of the problem before it can be resolved.
5. Please let us know why you started the GirlON Project?
In line with the MHDay goals, the concept of the GirlOn Project was born when
I was celebrating my birthday in 2019.
I came across a twitter post where discussions on the unimaginable state of menstrual
hygiene for girls living in rural communities.
The use of old rags and unthinkable unhygienic items for their periods, their exclusion
from social activities of their communities when they were on their periods and the
high cost of pads, tampons and the likes which was even a struggle for working women
to purchase. Some heartbreaking studies even show some girls engage in
transactional sex just to be able to purchase these products.
The GirlON Project focuses on empowering girls with information on menstrual
hygiene education to promote menstrual hygiene management, end period stigma, advocate
for affordable hygienic products & increase its access to girls in rural communities. We started
by raising pad donations for girls and then realising that the menstrual education was
more important. Our outreach covered 4 secondary schools in Ipele, Owo, Uso and Ogbese
communities in Ondo State and reached 1200 girls. In 2020 we went virtual due to covid-19
and this year we are collaborating with the Office of the Wife of Ondo State Governor,
Betty-Anyanwu Akeredolu Foundation (BAAF) and BEMORE Empowered Foundation
to mark the MH Day for 2021.
6. How do you plan to extend the concept of The GirlOn Project?
For now, we are focusing on Menstrual Health and Hygiene for girls as we work
within our funding constraints. I actively work with young girls and as an HR
Professional passionate about personal and career development for girls and
women in general, Girl ON-Education, Girl ON-Personal Finance, Girl ON-Leadership,
Girl ON-Investment, and Girl ON-Entrepreneurship are all avenues that would be
expanded and explored in the future.
7. I find today’s generation is more interested in making money, why did you decide on
improving our understanding of the menstrual cycles of young person’s?
Trust me, I very much believe in making money… you should ask my friends. But I sort of
have a different concept of money.
I believe the best things in life are free and giving value and memorable experiences
that one can learn and grow from is
more empowering.
I believe that this information empowered me when I was younger, the schools cannot
do everything. I recall an NGO visiting my secondary school and speaking on a topic I
no longer quite remember. I know it was impactful because at that age, one is very
impressionable and their words stuck with me for a long time. I want young people to
have good interactions and experiences that will stay with them even if they don’t
remember who I am. As adults, we must commit to giving young people a better experience
instead of focusing on their shortcomings especially if they don’t know better. Though there
are other causes I lend my voice to, such as Breast Cancer and Childhood Cancer;
MHM is one of the causes I choose due to its long lasting effect on the lives of girls
and women. I hope each person finds theirs and does the bit that contributes to
the drop that makes an ocean.
8. In our society, discussion on the reproductive health of young persons particularly
about the different health issues of the menstrual cycle is usually not discussed openly,
how do you think we can overcome this hang up.
Women and girls have to be willing to end the shyness and shame associated with
discussing such topics within themselves before stepping out of the room to discuss
them in public. Persistent stigma, cultural myths and taboos have done a number on us.
We are ready to stop hiding in the shadows and suffering in silence. This has not been the
trend, but whenever one wakes up is their morning. Right?
I’ve been seeing hilarious Tiktok videos on menstrual cramp simulators being used on men
and then alternatively used on women. The men are writhing in pain while the women
are like “this feels like a mild cramp”. So the conversations are now in public 7spaces
which is a good sign.
Programs like that of BEMORE Empowered Foundation targeting young girls with
impactful life skills ranging from ICT, solar training, health awareness, and menstrual
hygiene among others should be encouraged. I also know a young man actively working on educating young people in reproductive health and related issues- Nathan Akatakpo of Peregrine House of Hope operating in Lagos.
Many others are personally invested in contributing their quota to fill the misinformation
gap which is leading our youths to calamity. It’s not a one day thing but constant
advocacy will help in the long run.
9. So many issues are associated with lack of proper leadership. Why do you think leadership is important and how can one get the requisite experience to lead effectively in the future especially for young people.
Like i said earlier, most people are waiting to become leaders without any preparation in place; folding their hands and waiting for it to be given on platter of gold. When they eventually get a seat at the table, they are not able to function properly because the foundation is not strong enough to carry their new responsibilities.
I advise people to see leadership as a daily activity. If there’s a conversation? contibute! if something needs to be done? take a stand and do it! if you are not clear about something? Ask! Let’s stop waiting around for a messiah; nobody is coming to save us. Doing some heavy lifting may be an inconvinece now, but we learn by doing and making mistakes along the way.
The moment i found my voice, i knew it would be in injustice not to share my perspective and offer value to people within my sphere of influence. I currently serve in several roles in different organisations; Catholic Womens Organisation in my church and Old School Alumni; General Secretary for Ondo State Branch of Chartered Institute of Personnel Management Nigeria(CIPM); National Editor for Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria; Executive Secretary for Brendan Obioha Childhood Cancer Foundation (BOCCF) in addition to VP PRO of Sunshine Toastmasters Club.
Having an attitude of service means you will get more opportunities to learn and become a better version of yourself.
10. Thank you for your patience and understanding, how may we reach you for further
information?
It was an honor having this conversation with a veteran broadcaster such as you. I can be
reached on linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-elekwachi/
email [email protected] and twitter @pamzy_el.
To follow our MHM activities follow of TheGirlOn Project; @thegirlonproject
(Facebook, Instagram), Twitter @girlonproject.
Thank you very much, Danke
