IN a move that is likely to break menstrual health related barriers and misinformation among learners of primary school going age, Vasikana Project has partnered with Menstrupedia of India, StayFree Africa and The Sister Accord Foundation to publish a Menstrupedia Shona Comic book in Zimbabwe.
By Michael Gwarisa
Vasikana Project is a local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) championing girl empowerment through menstrual health education and they worked with Menstrupedia of India who are the original publishers of the book to translate the comic into Shona. The Sister Accord Foundation donated US$2500 to print the initial batch of 1000 books to be made available for schools in rural Zimbabwe where access to menstrual health resources is very limited.
Speaking during the virtual launch of the Comic, Vasikana Project Executive Director, Zvisinei Dzapasi Mamutse said the Comic would go a long way in addressing some of the challenges and barriers girls face with regards to managing their menstrual health.
“For years, we distributed pads in schools. However, we realized that ending period poverty is multifaceted and we wanted to do more than leave a packet of pads. We wanted to put an educational resource that eradicated barriers to menstrual health and a resource available to the girls for years to come,” said Zvisinei.
She added that they would start by distributing the book in at least six schools they already serve and resources permitting, they would also working on a Ndebele comic as well as other versions for other African countries to ensure the menstrual health message reaches every corner of the world.
The book will also be available to organizations who want purchase it for communities they serve and individuals who want to support their grade schools, youth groups, or girl clubs and those in the diaspora can buy the book online, to be picked up in Zimbabwe. In India, the Comic similar to the one that has been launched in Zimbabwe is used in over 10 000 schools in India and has won awards for its concept of using graphic comics to educate about periods, a topic with many cultural taboos.
Aditi Gupta, the founder of Menstrupedia Comic India said,” Menstrupedia has been organizing Masterclasses on Menstrual Education for Educators. Zvisinei Dzapasi happed to be an attendee. And not only did she attend the Masterclass, she went ahead and completed our changemaker’s program- an extensive course to help Menstrual Educators design and implement successful Menstrual Hygiene Management, Menstrual Awareness/Education modules that are sustainable, efficient, and easily introduced to hundreds of girls,” said Gupta.
“It was a proud moment for the entire team of Menstrupedia since this is the first time our comic book was being introduced in an African country where issues related to women’s health were very similar to the Indian context.”
The launch of the Shona comic was also a plan that Stayfree Africa rallied behind and they indicated that the comic was a lifechanging innovation in Zimbabwe.
“Stayfree is committed to providing young women with the educational tools from a young age to naturalize menstruation so they can progress confidently in life, knowing that they are comfortably protected at all times. The partnership with Vasikana Project is an amazing opportunity to further support the education of young women through an engaging format,” Jess du Plessi, the StayFree Brand Ambassador said.
Meanwhile, printing of the initial 1000 copies was sponsored by Sister Accord Foundation. Speaking on the sponsorship, Sonia Jackson Myles, the Founder of The Sister Accord Foundation said, “The Sister Accord Foundation is on a mission to have 1 billion girls, and women learn how to love themselves and each other. In order for girls and women to love themselves, they must fully know and understand their bodies.
“The distribution of this amazing comic book is aligned with the Sister Accord Foundation, which has sponsored printing the initial 1000 copies. Important educational information will be accessed to girls who don’t have smartphones and are not on internet. We are literally making history in Zimbabwe with this action, that will leave a legacy for years to come,” said Myles.
