Ladies Without Plastic - Green Menstruation. Environmental challenge by Sofonie Dala, Angola. Webisode 13

 Our Africa Educates her Campaign season 5 is on going 

Ladies without plastic - key to reduce our carbon footprints

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our green menstruation challenge, where we provide positive workshops and raise awareness about alternative and sustainable menstruation methods!

In developing countries, many girls drop out of school because they cannot afford sanitary pads and tampons. Disposable tampons and pads aren't sustainable, but do women want to talk about it?

Deolinda will share with us about her hygiene preferences and what she thinks about sanitary products.

Good evening girl!

Good evening dear.

How old are you?

I'm 14 years old.

What is your name?

My name is Deolinda.

Okay. Which of these pads do you use?

I use disposable pad.

Why?

Because it's softer and it takes less work to wear.

Why don't you prefer the cloth absorbent?

Because in addition to washing and drying, this is also disgusting and smells bad.

So you don't like using the washable pad because you don't want to smell blood?

Yes, it is disgusting.

Have you ever used the cloth absorbent?

Yes.

Didn't you like the experience?

I didn't like it, it's disgusting, so I prefer to use the disposable pad.

But did you know that disposable absorbent contains plastics that pollute the environment?

Yes, I knew.

And do you still use it?

Yes.

Don't you plan to stop using it someday?

I think it will be impossible.

Not at all, other alternatives are being produced, such as the silicone menstrual cups and washable pads. They are more economical and accessible.

Period poverty is a significant barrier, with girls having to drop out of school because they simply can't afford the menstruation products they need. 

What are the options?

While there are sustainable alternatives on the market, such as silicon menstrual cups, reusable pads and unbleached/organic cotton varieties of disposables, these all remain niche options without huge marketing budgets behind them. 

The same solutions that will make menstruation more sustainable for women in the developed world are what will make it bearable for women in the developing world, who are even more limited in their options.

Interesting links about Deolinda:

Anatomy of Action Challenge for Sustainable Living

Africa Educates Her Campaign 

Girls back to school campaign

The grand finale. Corona Voice - Angola

Ladies without plastic - Green Menstruation. Environmental challenge by Sofonie Dala, Angola. Webisode 12

 Women without plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints 👣 

Greetings for the day! 

Welcome to day 12 of our Green Menstruation Challenge!

Because of women’s relationship with the environment, they can be critical agents of environmental conservation, sustainable development and adaptation to climate change.

Our guest for today is Isabel-Branca who is 25 years old, she is willing to accept the challenge of changing from disposable to reusable products for the sake of the environment.

As women’s participation in environmental management has increased, they have become more visible. By enrolling women and their communities as partners, we will increase community awareness of sustainable practices while supporting traditional knowledge. Workshops on how to dispose of plastic responsibly, use solar cookers, use reusable menstrual pads, improve management of water resources, including rain water harvesting, and other good practices that are kinder to the environment enhance the quality of rural life.

Interesting links about Isabel: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/01/africa-educates-her-campaign-angola_4.html

https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/12/corona-voice-angola-tok-show-with_29.html

Ladies Without Plastic - Green Menstruation. Environmental challenge by Sofonie Dala, Angola. Webisode 11

 Our Africa Educates her Campaign season 5 is on going 

Green Menstruation - Day 11

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, 

Welcome to show eleventh of our environmental challenge Women Without Plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints! 

The influence that parenting styles can have on a child's identity and emotional stability can be positive, negative or a combination.Educating parents about more sustainable period products is important, as it encourages both parent and child to seek reusable options.

Our guest for today is Viviane, she will tell us about who inspires her to do the things she does.

Good afternoon lady!

Good afternoon.

What is your name?

My name is Viviane.

How old are you?

I am 13 years old.

Which of these pads do you use?

I use the disposable pad.

Why do you prefer this one?

Because my mom tells me to wear this one.

Do you use this just because your mother says?

Yes.

Have you ever used the washable pad?

No, I never used it.

Did you know that this disposable absorbent is harmful to the environment? “There’s a huge carbon footprint that goes into making these products, and then they get thrown on the ground When wrapped in plastic bags, feminine hygiene waste can take centuries to biodegrade.

No. I didn't know about this.

For these reasons,  we recommend using cloth absorbents, as they are more sustainable and economical, and they are affordable.

OK.

So will you start using the reusable pad one day?

Yes, I will try it.

It’s time to #DitchDisposables and refuse everyday products which cannot be reused! 

Swap single use items for reusable alternatives. If the current trend continues there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050! We mean, instead of using disposable pads and tampons that are discarded after just one use, consider using reusable products instead.

Ladies without plastic - Green Menstruation. Environmental challenge by Sofonie Dala, Angola. Day 10

  Women without plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints 👣 

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, 

Welcome to tenth day of our environmental challenge Women Without Plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints! 

Amenorrhea is when a girl’s menstrual bleeding (period) doesn’t occur. Primary amenorrhea is when the first menstrual bleeding at puberty doesn’t occur by age 15. Delayed puberty in girls occurs when breasts don't develop by age 13 or menstrual periods do not begin by age 16.

Although most girls get their first period when they're around 12, our today's guests have already reached 14 years of age and are still not menstruating.~

 Interview with Georgina

Good afternoon young lady!

Good afternoon.

What is your name?

My name is Georgina.

How old are you?

I'm 14 years old.

Which of these pads do you use?

None of them.

Why?

Because I'm not menstruating yet.

Oh, haven't you started menstruating yet?

Not yet.

Is this normal to happen in your family?

Yes.

How old do girls start menstruating in your family?

With 16 years of age.

Who started menstruating at the age of 16 in your family?

My mother and my sisters.

Is this natural to happen in your family? Have you ever consulted a doctor to find out why you have late menstruation?

No, we didn't consult the doctor.

If your mom didn’t get their period until they were 15 or older, chances are that being a late bloomer runs in your family. That may especially be true if your aunts, grandmothers, and cousins also started menstruating only after they were well into high school. 

 Girls usually start their periods between 10 and 16 years of age. Most girls get their first period when they're around 12. It’s a sign that your body is maturing, so that one day, if you want to, you should be able to have a baby.

Interview with Vilcya

~

Hey, good afternoon!

Good afternoon!

What is your name?

My name is Vilcya.

Vicya how old are you?

I'm 14 years old.

Okay, can you tell us which of these pads you use?

Well, I don't use any.

Why?

Because I haven't started menstruating yet.

oh, 14 years old, and still not menstruating?

Yes it's true.

Are these cases common in your family?

Yes.

At what age do women usually start menstruating in your family?

Women in my family start menstruating at the age of 17.

Seriously?

Yes Yes,

OK thanks.

How does climate affect your menstrual cycle?

While climate change does not directly affect your period, it results in a lot of other changes that can throw your cycle off-balance: changes in your food habits, differences in your exercise patterns, increased levels of stress. Moreover, many factors that affect the timing menarche in girls could be affected by climate change.

Research from climatology was incorporated to describe how climate change events, including increased hurricanes, avalanches/mudslides/landslides, and extreme weather events could alter the age of menarche by disrupting food availability or via increased toxin/pollutant release. These perturbations in the timing of menarche are likely to increase the disease burden for women in four key areas: mental health, fertility-related conditions, cardiovascular disease, and bone health. In summary, the climate does have the potential to impact women’s health through perturbation in the timing of menarche and this, in turn, will affect women’s risk of disease in future.

Ladies without plastic - Green Menstruation. Environmental challenge by Sofonie Dala, Angola. Day 9

 Women without plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints 👣 

Greetings for the day! 

Welcome to the ninth day of the Green Menstruation Challenge!

In the long run, a lack of education can have several devastating impacts on a girl's life, including the possibility of child marriage, early pregnancy and vulnerability to violence and abuse. 

Our program is supporting communities around the world with a life-changing skill and helping to protect the environment at the same time.

Today we have Marcelina, she has been participating actively in many of our shows, and now she is going to share with us about her  hygiene preferences.

Hello!

Hi. 

Please tell us which of these pads do you use?

I use this disposable pad. 

Can you tell why?

Well, I use this to protect myself. Furthermore, once I have used this pad, I can easily throw it away. 

Why is the cloth absorbent not your preference? 

Simply because I don't like to wash.

Safe, affordable menstrual products are essential for anyone who menstruates. But around the world, millions of women, girls and people who menstruate can’t afford to buy or don’t have reliable access to the safe menstrual products they need.

The use of conventional, disposable menstrual products is harming the environment. Most sanitary pads contain up to 90% plastic, while tampons have plastic applicators and sometimes come in individual plastic wrappers. The production of plastic and improper disposal of these products is causing pollution and filling up landfills.

Period poverty, including the stigma that often surrounds menstruation, stops many people from going to school or work, leading them to miss out on their education or vital income to support themselves and their families.

Special song from Marcia

Hello, my name is Marcia, since we are experiencing difficult moments in this pandemic, I will sing a song that has always comforted me.

Jesus died on the cross for me

Jesus died on the cross for me

he was falling and getting up, 

broken he was, 

abandoned by death

even so, he still said Father forgive them 

because they don't know what they do

Click here to watch free the entire program: 

https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/02/remembering-last-day-of-africa-educates.html?m=1

 CORONA VOICE . THE TOK SHOW WITH SOFONIE DALA 

As the pandemic has pressed on, people have found innovative ways to come together. There have been dances of gratitude, dances with masks, dances that connect, as a way of encouraging people to dance their blues away.

Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you our dancer Marcelina!

                                 

Hello everyone! My name is Marcelina. I have not been studying since May 1, 2020 because of  the covid-19, but this does not stop me from dancing.

How are you all making work under lockdown and what concerns has this crisis raised for you? 

Lockdown has given us permission to reimagine what making art might look like.

CLICK HERE TO FIND MORE ABOUT MARCIA: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/01/corona-voice-angola-tok-show-with_27.html?m=1