End period shame, stigma and poverty -
A girl with an education is unstoppable—but barriers like gender discrimination, poverty, and exploitation prevent many girls from reaching graduation. Our Youth Ambassadors created #STFPowerOfPoetry to amplify girls' voices about this issue for #PoetryMonth and #GlobalActionWeekForEducation.
This poem was written and performed by 12-year-old Hope Wambui Ochieng of Nairobi, Kenya: shesthefirst.org/stf-blog/2023/4/21/end-period-shame-stigma-and-poverty
End period shame, stigma and poverty
I am a slum girl, sooo what. Being a slum girl does not make me less a girl,
i am proud because I know my right of equality.
Going to school using a rug like a pad and oops I stain my dress, pointing fingers and laughter becomes the talk of the day, I gain courage to be strong for I have no one to defend me but am still proud to be a slum girl.
I can't fit in the group of girls, speaking fluent English, with branded clothes and a rich lifestyle but am still proud to be slum girl and cannot complain of what my parents didn't offer to me, could be that is what they had.....let's end period stigma, shame and stigma.
I hope wambui ochieng as a stands for the girl child to get free sanitary towels in my efforts to make this world a better place towards ending period poverty, stigma and shame. Iam I will and I must join sdg 17 in partnership to support sdg
3 for good health and well being
4 for quality education
5 for gender equality
And because I am a slum girl I salute and appreciate those faces that smile back when they hear my name HOPE the slum girl.
#endperiodpovertyandshame