Dorcas Baeni is 16 years old. On this day in Sake, in the eastern region of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), she strides confidently through a bustling courtyard, an orange-colored bucket in her arms. She's holding a menstrual health kit, donated by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). But it's not what she's carrying that's most remarkable – it's the expression on her face: dignified and self-assured.
“Before, we were living in a displacement site [due to the conflict], and the hygiene conditions were very poor. Since we came back here to Sake, we’ve been trying to readjust, but it’s not easy,” says Dorcas. “Thanks to the lessons I received today and the menstrual health kit, I feel more prepared and I’ll now be able to take care of myself during my menstruation.”
Dorcas returned to Sake with her mother and two sisters, having lost everything during the conflict in eastern DRC. Today, they live in a simple wooden house, which they share with another host family, allowing little privacy. There is no bathroom, limited water, and soap is often in short supply.
During her period, Dorcas made do with torn pieces of loincloth, which she washed in secret at night, for fear of being seen or judged. Every month, it was the same ritual of embarrassment and discomfort. Like her, millions of girls in DRC experience their periods in appalling conditions, marked by precariousness, shame, and taboo.
But that day, Dorcas wasn't alone; she was surrounded by more than a hundred girls, who all came together. They laughed, sang, danced, and learned.
Breaking taboos, celebrating bodies: a day to relearn how to perceive ourselves
The event site in Sake didn't resemble a conference room. It was an open courtyard lined with trees. Organized by the African Youth and Adolescent Network on Population and Development (AfriYAN DRC), in partnership with three youth-led organizations – Hope Heal Aid, Les Ailes du Cœur and Easy WAY – and with support from UNFPA thanks to funding from the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), this day was not just a simple conversation; it was a collective celebration.
The girls attended a participatory theater performance telling the story of a student expelled from school for a blood stain. They heard powerful poems in which teenage girls spoke of fear, shame and pain, but also of strength. And for the first time, boys were there – not to mock, but to listen, understand, and applaud.
"It's crucial to break the taboos surrounding periods. We want to make people understand that menstruation shouldn't be a source of shame, but a natural and healthy bodily function that deserves to be respected," stated Jovianne Tshanda, Education and Entrepreneurship Programme Manager at AfriYAN.
Small group discussions, led by peer mentors, allowed the girls to ask questions freely: How can they manage their periods hygienically? What can they do when they don't have soap? Is some pain normal? And most importantly: Who can they talk to?
Hygiene kits: tools for health and dignity
At the heart of the event was also a concrete gesture: the distribution of 100 menstrual hygiene kits and 50 dignity kits. Each of these kits included sanitary pads, soap, a menstrual cycle necklace, underwear, and a simple but clear information booklet.
For Dorcas, like many other teenage girls present that day, it was the first time they had received a hygiene kit and learnt how to use it. The ecological and economical sanitary pads provided are washable and reusable, and less likely to cause irritation and other medical complications which could occur from poor hygiene. They learnt that it's possible to track their cycle with a beaded necklace. And above all, they gained an understanding of their own bodies, that they have the right to ask questions and be informed, and that menstruation is normal and nothing to be ashamed of.
“Open communication and education about menstruation are crucial to dispel myths and promote hygiene, comfort, and overall well-being for women and girls and, to provide information for men and boys” stated Solange Ngane, Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist for North Kivu, UNFPA.
Menstrual health: a matter of autonomy, education and social inclusion
In eastern DRC, where girls must choose between buying a loaf of bread or a sanitary pad, these kits are more than just supplies; they are a lifeline to maintaining their health, ensuring social participation, and enabling access to education.
The numbers speak for themselves: In some areas of sub-Saharan Africa, up to 1 in 3 girls regularly miss school during their periods. This figure rises in crisis areas like Sake. Without menstrual hygiene products or sexual health education, each period can become a source of exclusion and a major risk factor for women's health. The lack of access to soap and sanitary products increases the risk of urinary tract and vaginal infections and long-term complications – particularly in humanitarian settings, where clean water and latrines are often lacking.
For Dorcas and the other girls of Sake, this day was unlike any other. It was a turning point; a rare moment when they were able to raise their heads, and feel empowered. A day when they collectively declared that they were proud of their periods.
