The Young Woman Project (Eboma Tida, in the Warao language) will train indigenous refugees between ages 10 to 19 years to produce sustainable absorbents
The Art-Education Sector of the Fraternity – International Humanitarian Federation (FIHF) is developing the Young Woman project: Workshop on Ecological Absorbents for indigenous young women between 10 and 19 years old who live in the shelters of the Humanitarian Roraima Mission, and has the support of the UNHCR (UN Agency for Refugees).
The pilot program was done in the Nova Canaã Shelter with six young women between the ages of 10 to 12 years old, but according to the coordinator of the initiative, Raquel de Souza, the opportunity will be offered to all who want to participate.
Raquel explains that among the objectives of the project is the “stimulation of a discussion on the menstrual cycle, becoming aware of the rhythms of the feminine body and self-care, besides getting to know about the memories of ancestors and their relationship with the menstrual cycle, comparing them with current times.”
Environmental sustainability is a related subject that will also be discussed with the participants, since ecological absorbents, reusable and sustainable, are one of the possible alternatives to disposable absorbents.
Before presenting the project to the target audience, the anthropologist of the Humanitarian Fraternity (FIHF), Fernando Fileno, and the indigenous women leaders, the Aidamos, were consulted to avoid any kind of inconsistency or embarrassment in relation to the cultural habits and values of the Warao tribe, having in view the depth and sensitivity of the subject, and so that there could be validation from everyone. “The mothers of the participants were informed by the Aidamos and I personally gave the young women a written invitation,” explains Raquel, who enthusiastically emphasized: “there was an immediate support on the subject, and none of the participants missed during the workshop.”
With the Covid-19, there was a lessening of group and school activities, and the workshops became essential for establishing a rhythm in the life of the young people, helping in fostering mental health. For this reason, to encourage the capability of the adolescents as social teachers, being able to take care of themselves and the women of their communities, contributes to the strengthening of this population.
Overcoming Taboos
According to Raquel, the creation of the Young Woman Project first came out of the need for creating a connection with the young women and adolescents so as to work on educational subjects relevant to puberty and adolescence, in a playful way and close to their realities. “The main subject of the project is menstruation, but we intend to address subjects such as the environment, the indigenous culture and handicrafts in a way that will be a process of collective construction, through which they will have the opportunity of making their own ecological absorbents and be invited to participate as facilitators in other workshops,” she highlights.
“The education is extremely relevant to these young women, because puberty and adolescence are stages of great physical, psychological, behavioral and social changes. For this reason, the importance is emphasized for working with the indigenous refugees that are going through these stages in life, who are groups extremely vulnerable to the risk of suffering gender-based violence (abuse and exploitation, assault, child marriage), discrimination, child pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, drug abuse, among others,” emphasizes Raquel.
Environment and Sustainability
On average, a woman can use up to 12 thousand disposable absorbent pads during their lifetime; this is equal to the production of approximately 182 kgs (400 lbs) of trash during her menstruating years. And that material may take up to 400 years to decompose. Ecological absorbents appear to be a practical and intelligent solution for controlling the production of trash and the disposal of waste, they help to economize, and contribute to more naturally and comfortably preserving women’s health.
Right of access to hygiene products
In spite of the humanitarian response offering a monthly kit to the refugees with personal and menstrual hygiene products, it is very important to highlight the data on this subject at a global level.
A menstruating woman spends an average of R$12 ($2 USD) in disposable absorbents every month. This is equal to an expenditure of R$6000 ($1160 USD) during their whole fertile period. An amount inaccessible to millions of young girls and women around the world, especially in street people, women who live in shelters or in refugee camps, and people living in poverty, the most vulnerable to this problem.
The lack of access to these products, besides health problems, can bring up many other matters that will be reflected throughout the life of these people. As a result of menstrual insecurity, young girls end up not going to school on the days of their menstrual period, which can harm their school performance.
The results of this over the long term are serious, because with a compromised education, inequality between men and women in the job market and social life is generally accentuated. In this way, the chances for these young girls to break the cycle of poverty and acquire financial autonomy diminish even more.
Matters such as protection and wellbeing, managing menstrual hygiene, prevention of risks (child pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases) and community participation are relevant in a quality humanitarian response that supports human dignity, as indicated in the Minimum Requirements for Education (MRE) and the Handbook on Gender: Gender Equality in and through Education (Management of Menstrual Hygiene) of the Inter-institutional Network for Education in Emergency Situations (INEE) and in the Sphere Handbook.
