Gender Equality Morocco Project #44759

Stop Period Poverty for Girls in Morocco

by Project Soar

Project Report | Jun 23, 2021
Period Kits: "Now I can live a normal life."

By Tess Dunn | Program Manager

Project Soar Girls play freely in Douar Igoudar

Hi Friends! We are sending gratitude to you, our supporters!

Thanks to your generous donations, Project Soar has completed another successful year of Project Soar in a Box, inclusive of the distribution of over 1,000 menstruation kits to teen girls across Morocco! Each Girl who participates in Project Soar in a Box not only learns about periods and period management, they also each recieve two pairs of a strategically designed period underwear that help them to more confidently manage their periods.

As many of you may already know, period management in Morocco and in many countries around the world continues to be not only a challenge due to cost, but also something that impacts girls' mental health due to stigmas and taboos. Girls struggle to find ways to adequately manage their periods, using fabric scraps, cut up diapers, bunched up toilet paper, or other alternatives. Without a way to confidently manage their periods, Girls often times stay home from school, opt out of sports, and limit going out during that time of the month.

The BeGirl period kits our organization provides to all Project Soar Girls offer an easy to use, eco-friendly, and shame-free product. We sat down recently with members of one of the Project Soar Girl Leader Clubs that received their period kits in 2020 to see how these kits had impacted them. When asked what the Girls like about the period underwear, they stated that it was "comfortable," "never leaks," and "dries fast" after washing. While these things may seem insignificant to many, these aspects are crucial for providing Girls more freedom and agency in their day-to-day lives. For example, a number of girls mentioned that since using the period underwear provided by Project Soar, they now feel comfortable enough to really be active while menstruating, stating, "[Using the period underwear] makes me feel that I can do a lot of activities, like taking a walk, sitting in the class for a long time, or even playing sports!" 18 year old Khadija stated that before using the period underwar, "I was having trouble playing sports. I was always worried that I would have leaks if I did certain moves. However now I can say that this product has helped me to somehow face this fear and live a normal life."

But most important of all, a recurring theme amongst the Girls was that of increased confidence since receiving their period kits. As 16 year old Assia says, "With the period kits, I am now able to wear whatever I want and do any activity I want with confidence."

Thank you again for your support. Period kits help keep girls stay in school, increase their confidence, and reduce the risk of child marriage and teen pregnancy! Never doubt you are making a difference!

Warmest wishes,

Tess and The Project Soar Team

Project Soar Girls excitedly open their period kit

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Feb 24, 2021
Delivered! Project Soar Girls Receive Period Kits!

By Anne Gorayeb | Special Projects Assistant

Hi Friends! We are sending gratitude to you, our supporters!

Thanks to your contributions, we have been able to cover over $8,000 of period supplies and have already distributed them to 12 Project Soar in a Box squads across Morocco! Supplies have gone to Aourir, Casablanca, Douar Laadam, Fam El Hisn, Mediouna, N’Zalat Bni Amar, Rich, and Tanger.

Recently, 200+ Project Soar girls received their BeGirl sustainable period kits! These eco-friendly, shame free, hygienic period kits enable girls to manage their periods effectively for three years -- so important, especially now that COVID-19 has made period supplies even harder to access for marginalized communities and more difficult to do so financially. In Morocco, like in so many places, period shame is common and period knowledge is scarce.

The PSB facilitators distribute the products to the girls during their workshop, I Manage My Menstruation in Module 3 of our Empowerment Curriculum. During this workshop, girls learn about how their bodies work and are given a safe space to share and ask questions openly.

Chaimae, a 13 year-old Project Soar girl, first got her period at age 10, before most of her friends. “It was overwhelming to get my period so early. I felt really unhappy and anxious,” she said.

Chaimae struggled to find support during this time. “My family wasn’t very understanding of my situation.” This soon changed when she joined Project Soar and began attending workshops.

When she engaged in workshops about her body and menstruation, Chaimae’s distress and anxiety about her period transformed. Armed with newfound knowledge, a recognition of her self-worth, and a BeGirl kit, Chaimae overcame her fears. “I can now speak openly about my period!”

No girl should be ashamed of her menstruation or let it get in the way of a bright future! Project Soar is proud to be a Period Positive environment.

Thank you again for your support. Period kits help keep girls in school and reduce the risk of child marriage and teen pregnancy! Never doubt you are making a difference!

Warmest wishes,

The Project Soar Team

Links:

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Nov 2, 2020
Confronting Period Poverty During COVID-19

By Jenna Lacey | Development Coordinator

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