Making a difference: COWASH IV MHM Training Program in Oromia
8 November 2024
Lemlem who is also the Gender Club head at East Welega Horda Dongi Primary School, is making a significant difference in the lives of young girls. With training from COWASH IV’s Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) program, Lemlem is empowering students by teaching them about menstrual hygiene and how to make reusable sanitary pads and underwear.
At the end of the Ethiopian fiscal year 2016, Lemlem along with the school director and a student from her school, attended a COWASH IV MHM and reusable sanitary pad and underwear trainers training program in Adama City. Since then, Lemlem and her team, with the support of the Oromia Education Bureau, one of the key partners of COWASH IV in the region, have been actively training teachers and students in their school. This initiative, beyond raising awareness about menstrual hygiene, has also helped to break down stigmas surrounding menstruation.
The training program in the school has also addressed the challenge of affordability by teaching students to make their own reusable sanitary pads and underwear. Lemlem says one of the challenges for many girls in her school has been the high cost of sanitary pads. However, with the skills they have learned through this training, some of her students are now able to produce their own reusable pads ensuring they have access to hygienic menstrual products. Lemlem and her team has already trained 537 students and aims to expand their reach to other schools and communities.
Beyond the MHM training, COWASH IV has supported Horda Dongi Primary School by constructing MHM center, a water supply point and improved latrines, providing a safe and hygienic environment for students and teachers. By facilitating safe WASH access in schools, health centers, and rural communities, COWASH IV is working to empower the future generation and ensure safe WASH for all.