The International Day of the Girl Child was marked with activities, aimed at creating awareness on the need to support the girl child to rise above mediocrity by creating more opportunities for them and increasing awareness of gender inequality.
In Nairobi, the highlight of the celebration on October 11, 2024, was the launch of a comic book titled “Siri Ya Mwezi” by Polycom Girls in partnership with Womankind Worldwide. Polycom Kenya has been championing the plight of girls for the last two decades.
“In celebrating the achievements in the fight for the girl child rights, we thought it wise to honour the success story, specifically on their monthly menstrual cycle by working on a special book, titled “Siri Ya Mwezi,” as part of our work for the “My Period” campaign,” said Jane Anyango, Founder Polycom Kenya.
Anyango said the initiative focuses on addressing the critical challenges surrounding menstrual health by fostering inclusive dialogue and promoting the integration of menstrual hygiene education into school curriculums.
She explained that the comic book, seeks to educate adolescents, communities, healthcare providers, and policymakers on the importance of menstrual health in a creative and accessible way.
Speaking during the book launch at the Nairobi Serena Hotel, Polycom Executive Director, Anne Angar, emphasised the need to highlight the natural phenomenon, albeit issues of period shaming, that the girl child faces.
“The project is rooted in the drive for menstrual equity and the removal of barriers that limit girls' full participation in school and social life during their menstrual cycle,” she said.
In recognition of the key role played by Polycom Girls, in addressing the menstrual “taboo,” Diana Njuguna, Co-CEO, of Womankind Worldwide, praised Polycom Girls for spearheading critical issues on empowering the girl child and issues surrounding the girl child and menstrual hygiene.
“Creating a world where every girl is safe, educated, put a dream in her and she becomes a woman with a vision, and so investing in girls is investing in a brighter, more equal future,” said The CEO.
Womankind Worldwide has partnered with Polycom Girls in the development and publication of “Siri Ya Mwezi” comic book.
“Empower a girl a girl today, change the world tomorrow, which means every girl has the right to dream, the power to achieve, and the courage to change the world, said adding that a girl with a dream becomes a woman with a vision." "Investing in girls is investing in a brighter, more equal future."
Nominated Senator, Catherine Muuma, who was the guest of honour, took a swipe at the government and other key players for their “not coming them with practical solutions for the plight of the girl child,” and therefore there was a need to encourage alternative voices of reason to elevate the voices of the girl child.
“I am particularly concerned about matters concerning sex education and menstruation, a monthly natural occurrence in the lives of the girl child and women that has been castigated as a taboo, and sadly even with decades of creating awareness around it, still the secrecy about these topics prevails,” said Muuma.
She castigated the church and other public institutions, for opposing sex education, terming it as an unacceptable topic in families, society, and other audiences.
“The silence and shame around periods have led to the rise of predatory behaviour such as sex pads, a sad state of affair that has caused tremendous harm to the consumers – the girl child and women,” she lamented.
Muumo spoke on the need to have “special spaces” where both the girl and child (men and women too) can discuss sexual-related issues, noting that adolescence is the most defining moment in a child’s life.
The event was attended by the girl child (Polycom girls and pupils), former leader of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake movement Zipporah Kitony, and Wahu Kahara, a renowned global social injustice activist. The event was moderated by journalist, Mildred Ngesa, a voice of reason for the rights of the girl child and a champion for human rights.
“It is a shame that the girl child (and woman) should be ashamed by a monthly natural bodily process, one that was completely out of her control,” Wahu told the attentive participants.
She wondered why a girl or a woman had to be ashamed because somebody else makes it an uncomfortable situation and something to be ashamed of, a situation she said was bent on dominating and controlling the girl child and women.
The rights activist emphasised on the need for women to be agents of social transformation as demonstrated by Polycom Girls.
Kittony spoke of the journey of the girl child recognising the milestones achieved so far. However, she said, there was still more to be achieved for the girl child (and women) to be empowered.
“The girl child is the feminine and face of God, which has a fresh new start in each baby girl born, and she comes into the world knowing things – that she is a force of nature that comes into the world saying ‘watch me grow! I can do this,” said the former lawmaker.
She advised the girls to be ambassadors of what a good and respectful girl child should be – one who is respectful, kind, and helpful to everyone at school. “This will make people like and respect you more, so you should do your best to get good grades,” she said.
