More than 200 schoolgirls in South Sudan’s Maridi State have completed a week-long training program on sanitary pad making.
The training, organized by Maridi Service Agency (MSA) with support from Christian World Service (CWS), targeted primary and secondary schoolgirls from the ages of 15 and above.
Speaking during the event in Maridi town on Thursday, John Taban, the director general in the state education ministry lauded MSA’s initiative, saying it will help girls stay in class during menstrual periods.
“Don’t hurry for sex. It is your right but it should come at the right time, so avoid these boda-boda guys who are trying to destroy your future and you should know how to control yourselves,” he said.
Tabu Florence Nelson, the trainer, said parents should teach children sex education to enable them to know changes in bodies.
For his part, MSA’s director Peter Wadala said the issue of menstrual period is hardly talked about in some cultures.
“In Maridi, we found out that most girls tend to miss school because getting sanitary pads is not something easy. MSA gives skills to girls to enable them make their own pads,” he stressed.
Since the outbreak of conflict in December 2013, South Sudan has been confronted with many challenges, particularly large population displacements, chronic hyperinflation, civil unrest and food insecurity.
In this volatile environment, the already fragile education system has deteriorated at both the system and service delivery levels and is characterized by poor educational outcomes and high numbers of out-of-school children.