FLAS YAM EMPOWER OVER 1000 STUDENTS ACROSS ESWATINI WITH MENSTRUAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE SUPPORT

In a bold and compassionate stride toward ensuring menstrual dignity and health education for adolescents, the Youth Action Movement (YAM), with the support of the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS), has reached more than 1,000 students through outreach visits to four high schools across the country.

This impactful initiative covered all four regions of Eswatini, visiting Enkhaba High School in the Hhohho Region, Florence High School in Shiselweni, Gundvwini High School in Manzini, and Mnotfweni High School in the Lubombo Region..During these school visits, a total of 1,000 sanitary pad packs were donated and distributed to adolescent girls, while 40 dignity packs were given to boys. These dignity packs, thoughtfully curated, included essential hygiene items aimed at promoting self-care, self-confidence, and health awareness among young boys. At each school, 250 girls benefited from the sanitary pad donations, and 10 boys received the hygiene packs.

    

The outreach also created a safe platform for engaging and educational conversations on critical topics related to adolescent health. The sessions explored menstruation from a biological and emotional perspective, promoting accurate understanding while addressing harmful myths and stigma often attached to menstrual health. Students were guided through proper menstrual hygiene practices and were also introduced to the importance of mental health, particularly how menstruation can affect emotional well-being. These discussions served to foster empathy, understanding, and peer support, while also encouraging boys to be allies in promoting menstrual health and dignity.

 

This initiative is part of a broader commitment by YAM and FLAS to champion adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly for those in underserved communities. The momentum continues, with plans already underway to extend the initiative to more schools in the coming quarter. With generous support from the public, organisational partners such as Rising Stars, and FLAS’ contributions, the menstrual hygiene drive will keep pushing forward, bringing hope, dignity, and critical knowledge to even more young people across Eswatini. Through such efforts, the Youth Action Movement and FLAS continue to demonstrate the power of youth-led engagement in transforming lives and nurturing a generation that is informed, empowered, and supported.