In the quiet town of Mamba, Yola South, a simple classroom turned into a space of transformation. For too long, conversations about menstruation have been whispered in corners, burdened with stigma, and shrouded in myths. But through the Sang Pour Sang Project (SPS), supported by Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and Fòs Feminista, Debbie Kauna Foundation (DKF) brought a different story to life.
This was not just another awareness session; it was a gathering where women and girls with disabilities stood at the center of the dialogue. Joined by the men too, teachers, and community members, the workshop peeled away layers of shame to reveal a shared truth: menstruation is natural, and dignity in managing it is a right, not a privilege.
The discussions opened eyes. Participants learned about menstrual hygiene management, the health risks of poor practices, and the damaging impact of harmful cultural beliefs. Young girls, many of them with disabilities, found courage to voice their personal struggles, moments of isolation, ridicule, and exclusion that came simply because of their periods. Their honesty shifted the atmosphere from silence to solidarity.
For the boys and men present, the workshop was an awakening. They began to see menstruation not as “women’s business” but as a human reality, one that requires empathy, respect, and support. Teachers, too, walked away with a renewed sense of responsibility: to foster classrooms where no child is mocked or excluded because of biology.
Beyond the facts and figures, what happened in Mamba was deeply human. It was about restoring dignity to women and girls with disabilities, who often carry double the burden of stigma: one tied to gender and the other to disability. By giving them a platform, DKF and partners reminded the community that inclusion is not optional it is essential for justice and equality.
Workshops like these are seeds planted. They may not dismantle stigma overnight, but they grow into awareness, into advocacy, and into action that sustains dignity for generations to come.
At DKF, we remain thankful to our sponsors, community stakeholders, and participants who made this workshop possible. Together, we are rewriting the narrative of menstruation from one of silence and shame to one of empowerment and inclusion.
Because when women and girls with disabilities are equipped with knowledge and safe spaces, they don’t just manage their periods, they reclaim their voice, their confidence, and their future.