Coming back from Uganda is always a mixture of joy and emotion for me. During my trip last September, I had the opportunity to attend an awareness-raising session run by Girls Menarche Initiative (GMI), our new partner, in an isolated village where access to education and resources is terribly limited. There, surrounded by shy but curious young girls, I was struck by the strength of this initiative and the hope it represents for thousands of girls who would otherwise be left behind.
In this remote village, seeing these young girls open up about a subject as sensitive as menstruation was a powerful moment. But what touched me even more was seeing the boys present, involved in the discussion. GMI understands that to break taboos and fight stigma, you have to talk to boys too. Their approach is incredibly intelligent: by educating both sexes, they transform the perception of menstruation into a collective issue of respect and empathy. In this way, boys become allies in the fight for equality and inclusion.
What touches me even more is the personal story that links us to GMI. One of the founders is a former beneficiary of Omoana House, our rehabilitation project for children born with HIV. To see that he has now become a key agent of change in his own community, working to transform the lives of other young people, was a moment that moved me deeply. It’s a great example of how, with support and resources, marginalised children can become the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.
By launching this project, ‘Menstruation doesn’t stand in the way of dreams’, we’re taking a new step together, and I know we’ll have a real impact. Because what we’re doing is much more than providing products or information. It’s about restoring confidence, dignity and hope. This project reminds me that every support counts, that every gesture we make resonates in the lives of these young people. Through this collaboration, we’re not just changing the face of menstrual insecurity, we’re building bridges between the past and the future, between the dreams of yesterday and the hopes of tomorrow. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your commitment to us.
Chloé Collier
Program coordinator
