By Suzy Hilary Kencle (YES 2012-2013, Cameroon, placed by AFS-USA in Sitka, AK)

I remember it like it was yesterday: the young me, boarding a plane for the first time, flying thousands of kilometers away from my family to meet people I didn’t know, yet who would soon become my second family. Becoming part of the Harris family, the Sitka community, and then the YES alumni network has shaped me in countless positive ways. Today, my much-improved English allows me to work as an English teacher and a freelance translator. Beyond language skills, my experience in the U.S. opened my eyes to the power of community service. Volunteering over 100 hours for various causes in my host community helped me discover my true passion: advocating for girls' education and empowerment. It gave me a clearer perspective on the socio-economic challenges girls face, and I became deeply committed to improving their conditions.

As a volunteer with the Association of Facilitators for Community Mobilization and Development (AFAMODEC), we recently worked to assist internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the Anglophone crisis. During one of our activities, I noticed that a young girl named Bertha, who had been actively participating, suddenly disappeared. She returned an hour later and confided in me that she felt uncomfortable due to starting her period. Surprised and eager to help, I learned through our conversation that she did not know how to track her menstrual cycle and was using unsuitable materials, like fabric, as sanitary protection. She also explained that her period often kept her from attending school

In December 2023, we organized two focus group discussions with 10 displaced women and 15 displaced young girls to gain deeper insights into the challenges they face in managing their menstrual hygiene. Our findings were alarming: 40% of the girls had never heard of the menstrual cycle before their first period, and only 20% knew how to track it. Additionally, only 26% had accurate information on how to manage menstruation, such as the proper use of sanitary protection and pain management techniques. The lack of access to affordable sanitary products was another major issue. About 73% of the girls did not regularly use disposable sanitary napkins due to their high cost. Instead, 60% resorted to using fabric, and 13% used sponges. None of the girls knew how to make reusable sanitary napkins. Furthermore, one-third of the girls stopped attending school during their periods. Among the women, 40% also lacked regular access to sanitary napkins, and only 20% used reusable ones. The menstrual period significantly affected their income-generating activities due to pain and discomfort. Perhaps most concerning was the lack of communication between mothers and daughters on this topic, highlighting the need for education and open dialogue within the community.

These findings underscore the urgent need for both theoretical and practical knowledge on menstrual hygiene management to improve the wellbeing of women and girls in this community. We therefore applied for a YES Alumni Grant to work towards a sustainable solution to help girls and women overcome the challenges they face each month.

Safe Menstruation for Internally Displaced People was held in August 2024 for 65 young women from the North-West region, living in Dschang, West Cameroon. On the first day, we discussed the menstrual cycle and hygiene management, emphasizing the importance of breaking the stigma around menstruation and encouraging open communication between mothers and daughters. The second day was hands on, with participants learning to create and maintain reusable, washable sanitary pads. On the final day, the Menoua Division Social Affairs Delegate awarded certificates, congratulating participants and encouraging them to use and potentially sell the pads they learned to make so other women in their community could also have affordable and sustainable hygiene products.

Our goal to equip women with good menstrual hygiene practices and the ability to design washable pads was achieved. Post-training survey results show that 100% of participants can now design pads, 98% understand their menstrual cycle, and 65% feel more comfortable discussing menstruation. We’re proud of the impact. One participant shared, “I learned to be open about menstruation and will talk more freely with my family."

The success of this event was due to the great support of our partners, AFAMODEC, the Social Affairs Delegation of the Menoua Division, and our project team, including fellow alumni Danielle Nyame and Gilles Tankeu and non-alumni volunteers Gires Teboukeu, Serena Kinkeu, and Audrey Sitcheu.

We want to express our gratitude to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for their generous sponsorship and the YES program for this opportunity.

Danielle Nyame (YES 2012-2013, Cameroon, placed by AYA/AIFS in Payette, ID)
Gilles Tankeu (YES 2013-2014, Cameroon, placed by AFS in McKinleyville, CA)