On Friday, 24 May 2024, Henrietta Ekefre a Waging Justice for Women Fellow serving her fellowship with the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) in collaboration with the Clooney Foundation for Justice(CFJ) and Legal Empowerment Fund (LEF) held a symposium titled ‘Legal empowerment talk and menstrual rights advocacy outreach’ (herein after referred to as the outreach) with two public secondary schools in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The outreach served over 570 students comprising of 330 girls and 240 boys who were active participants.
The team for the outreach was made of the WJW fellow Ms Ekefre and 12 volunteers.
The objectives of the outreach were to:
i. Educate students about their fundamental human rights and provide information on mechanisms available to support and enforce these rights.
ii. Raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV) and its impacts, and provide knowledge on recognising, preventing, and reporting GBV.
iii. Provide comprehensive education on menstrual health and personal hygiene management and inform the students about their reproductive health rights and access to relevant resources.
iv. Provide guidance on various career paths and the necessary steps to pursue them with an emphasis on public-interest careers
The students gathered on the assembly grounds based on their classes. The program started with the singing of the national anthem, followed by an introduction of the team by Ms Ekefre.
While still at the assembly grounds, Ms. Ekefre conducted the legal empowerment talk for all the students. She introduced them to their rights under the Constitution, the Children’s Rights Act, and international instruments such as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. After her session, she invited a GBV expert, who was also part of the volunteers, to speak briefly to the children on understanding and identifying different forms of gender-based violence. Ms. Ekefre then spoke to the students about the reporting mechanisms for GBV.
The breakout group sessions were designed to provide in-depth education and engagement on four core topics: reproductive health rights and hygiene; career talk; empowered mindset and positive thinking; as well as self-esteem, navigating peer pressure, and identity. Each session was structured to be interactive, informative, and practical, ensuring that students could not only learn but also apply the knowledge in their daily lives.
As part of our outreach program, we distributed reusable pads to 300 girls. This initiative aimed to promote menstrual hygiene and provide a sustainable solution for managing menstruation. The pads were designed to be eco-friendly and cost-effective given that they can last at-least a year with proper maintenance. The distribution was accompanied by a comprehensive session on menstrual health, emphasising the importance of hygiene and breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation.
In addition to the menstrual hygiene products for the girls, we also provided soaps to 240 boys. The soaps were part of our hygiene education efforts, aiming to inculcate the habit of regular handwashing and personal cleanliness among the boys. The distribution was paired with an educational talk on the importance of hygiene in preventing diseases and maintaining overall health
We also distributed 40 copies of the book ‘The Sex-smart Teenager’ by Raquel K Daniel to the schools. The books were donated to the outreach by Talk Initiative a Nigerian NGO which focuses on GBV and sex education for adolescents. The book provides age-appropriate and comprehensive information on sexual health and relationships to equip the students with knowledge that could help them make informed decisions, understand their bodies, and respect others. The books covered topics such as puberty, consent, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
During the breakout sessions, the team organised games to make the learning experience engaging and interactive. These games were based on the content discussed in the sessions, reinforcing the key messages in a fun and memorable way. Prizes were awarded to the winners of the games, which included educational materials and stationeries.
The outreach held on 24 May 2024 in Nasarawa State, Nigeria, was a resounding success. By engaging over 570 students, we achieved our objectives of empowering and educating them on legal rights, gender-based violence, menstrual and reproductive health, hygiene, self-development, and career guidance. The collaboration with Pad Up Africa and Talk Initiative significantly enhanced the program’s impact, providing essential resources and expertise.
The students’ enthusiastic participation, coupled with positive feedback from teachers and school staff, underscores the importance and effectiveness of such initiatives. The practical support provided through dignity kits and educational materials, along with the interactive and informative sessions, has equipped the students with knowledge and tools to advocate for their rights and make informed decisions about their future.
