By Catherine Abel Moshiro (YES 2013-2014, Tanzania, placed with PAX in Berryville, VA)

Women’s reproductive health is a global issue that is not unique to women, or people from certain nationalities, but to people across the globe. Ensuring that young women have access to reproductive health education should be a global initiative. YES alumna Catherine Abel Moshiro (YES 2013-2014, Tanzania, placed with PAX in Berryville, VA) remembers what it felt like to be a young woman looking for answers. Thus, she conducted a service project in her home country of Tanzania to help educate the young women attending Mlamke Secondary School, a high school in the heart of Iringa.

Catherine organized and executed two classes at Mlamke with the help of Atrida Kibasa, a friend and a student at the Primary Health Care Institute in Ingrina. Together, they were able to connect with over 70 female students, providing them with not only a safe space to ask questions about their own reproductive health, but also about feminine hygiene products. 

Women’s reproductive health affects more aspects of young women’s lives than is visible on the surface. Catherine said that without the right access to feminine hygiene products, young women are not able to attend classes during menstruation. Not only this, but without adequate education on the matter, young women are unable to feel confident in themselves and their successes. Most young women look for answers among their social groups, which can lead to the spread of misinformation and risky behavior. Catherine calls on her own experience as a growing woman and says that she wishes she had a resource like this. During her YES year abroad, she was able to speak freely with her host mother about topics such as this, inspiring her to replicate that same safe environment in schools around Tanzania.

Catherine is very active in service projects across Tanzania. In the past, she has been a part of entrepreneurship education for youth, environmental cleaning in schools, intramurals for youth, and more. She cares deeply for young people and plans to continue community service project work in the future.