Let’s Talk About Periods

Young people are taking action to call for free period products to be available for women and girls across Uganda.

In December 2021, we put cameras into the hands of young people to tell their own stories of why period-positive approaches are critical to dispel dangerous myths and taboos. Young people in Fort Portal, Uganda strategised how stories and photography could stimulate period-positive conversations in their communities.  As a result, participants took immediate action towards ending period poverty in their communities.

Together with our partner, Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), we hosted our Stories 4 Change: Digital Storytelling for SRHR workshop in Fort Portal. 20 young people honed their skills in participatory photography, advocacy and communication. With storytelling at the heart, young people improved their digital literacy skills and strategised advocacy plans and messages. Participants photographed their unique perspectives on why more must be done to address period taboos and stigma.

Young participants at our Stories 4 Change: Digital Storytelling for SRHR workshop in Fort Portal, Uganda.

Participants agreed - periods should be celebrated, and more needed to be done to end period poverty in their communities. A common advocacy strategy was devised to call for free period products to be made available to all women and girls.

Participants set out to photograph their stories and lived experiences to support their advocacy strategy. Participants photographed the impact of period poverty, the high-cost of period products, and how period stigma limits young women and girls’ opportunities. They also photographed how change is possible through period-positive discussions, engaging men and boys, and making period products affordable and accessible.

Through Their Lens

Young people’s photographs and captions about periods

Girl dancing freely in the sunlight, free from taboos and stigma surrounding periods.

"Pads in my home have become like school fees. Only that you have to pay monthly. The government needs to help us & at least make them more affordable" - Johnah, boda boda, Fort Portal, Uganda

"Male involvement in menstrual hygiene creates a conducive environment for our mothers, sisters and daughters. When we're all informed about #SRHR we're empowered. We're in this together!" -Hellen, Fort Portal, Uganda

“Reusable pads are a cost effective solution for parents who can not afford to buy disposable pads every month.” Castle Deejay, Fort Portal, Uganda

“Men full involvement in menstruation hygiene management is important because they take a big role in making decisions when it comes to SRHR and information access.” Tabu, Fort Portal, Uganda

Our Stories 4 Change workshop provided participants with a platform to take action to urgently address period-poverty. A co-curated photography exhibition was held in Fort Portal with local decision-makers to showcase participants’ resulting photographs and captions from the workshop. This provided an opportunity to engage with local decision-makers on why change in policy is needed when it comes to periods.

Our Stories 4 Change small-grants facility continues to support participants’ advocacy efforts after the workshop, so they can continue to use digital storytelling to create change in their communities. By promoting meaningful youth-engagement, our small grants facility invests in young changemakers to take action in their communities. Since the workshop, participants took a range of local actions – calling on local decision-makers for greater political support; engaging men and boys to dispel period stigma and taboos; and working with community groups to make reusable sanitary pads. Participants successfully mobilised one local government to donate free period products to women and girls in the community.

 The Stories 4 Change: Digital Storytelling for SRHR workshop was generously supported by the Waterloo Foundation as part of our project Knowledge and Information on Safe Sex (KISS).  Our digital tech solutions help young people as changemakers to take local action for SRHR.