Taking Period Shame Off the Timetable

A Student of Government Secondary School, Kuje, FCT, Wears the Cap with A Simple Message: No Shame in Flow!

By Cynthia Umeh

What is the first thing most students do when someone mentions menstruation in a crowded school hall?

Some laugh. Some look away. Some whisper to their friends. Some pretend they are not listening, even though they are catching every word. That reaction is not surprising. For many young people, menstruation is still treated like a secret, something to hide, joke about, or discuss only in hushed voices.

But on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Government Secondary School, Kuje, FCT, that familiar discomfort slowly turned into something better: curiosity, honesty, learning, and confidence.

Shades of Us, in partnership with Stand With A Girl (SWAG) Initiative and the Federal Capital Territory Secondary Education Board (FCT-SEB), held the Dignity in Menstruation and Mobile Cinema Collaboration, bringing together over 315 students, including girls, boys, and students with disabilities. It was not the kind of menstrual health session where students sit quietly while adults talk to them. This one had movement, film, practical demonstrations, student voices, honest questions, and the kind of “wait, I didn’t know that” moments that make learning stick.

The day opened with music, dance, and student participation, which was exactly the right way to begin. Before anyone could talk about periods, shame, pads, myths, or hygiene, the room needed to feel safe. It needed warmth. It needed students to know this was not going to be another awkward health talk where everyone becomes stiff and silent. The energy was light, and that made space for a serious topic to enter the room without fear.

Ramatu Ada Ochekliye, Founder of Shades of Us, welcomed the students and introduced the Mobile Cinema model. She spoke about storytelling and why film can help communities discuss issues that people often avoid. A good story does not just explain a problem; it lets people feel it. It puts a face to the shame, a voice to the silence, and a reason behind the need for change.

That was exactly what FLOW did.

The short film by Shades of Us tells the story of a girl who got stained in class and goes to the school nurse for help. Instead of comfort, she receives scolding. Instead of support, she feels more ashamed, and suddenly, a normal body process becomes a public embarrassment. For many girls, this is not just a film scene. It is a real fear.

As the students watched, the room settled into attention. FLOW gave them a story they could recognize. It showed the emotional weight of teasing, the harm that comes from poor support, and the difference one kind adult can make. Through the character of Teacher Amina, the film also showed what dignity can look like: listening, helping, protecting, and responding with care.

After the screening, Ramatu led a conversation with the students. They talked about the film, the menstrual cycle, pad affordability, reusable pads, and whether boys and men should understand menstruation. The responses made one thing clear: the message landed. Students understood that menstruation is normal, but shame is learned. They understood that jokes can hurt. They understood that boys and men should not be excluded from menstrual health education, because they are part of the homes, classrooms, and communities where girls live.

The event then moved into rotational learning stations, and this was where the program became even more hands-on. Instead of keeping students in one large group, facilitators guided them through smaller, focused sessions where they could ask questions, participate, and learn at a more personal level.

At the Film Reflection and Storytelling Station, students returned to the story in FLOW and talked about what stood out to them. They discussed the laughter in the classroom, the shame the girl felt, and the support she needed. The conversation helped students name the real issue: menstruation is not the problem, stigma is.

At the Reusable Pad Demonstration Station, Vivian Peter of Shades of Us introduced students to reusable menstrual pads. She explained what they are, how they work, how they are worn, and how they differ from disposable pads. Using sample materials and carbon paper, she demonstrated how patterns can be cut, and some students participated directly. This part had serious “practical life skill” energy, because students were not just hearing about another menstrual product; they were seeing how it could be made, used, washed, dried, stored, and cared for safely.

For communities where period poverty is a real issue, this kind of knowledge is a major green flag. Disposable pads are important, but they are not always affordable. Reusable pads can reduce long-term costs when properly used and cared for, and they give girls more options. That matters because menstrual dignity is not only about telling girls to be confident. It is also about making sure they have safe, practical ways to manage their periods.

At the Menstrual Health Education Station, Maureen Torkula of SWAG Initiative explained menstruation and the menstrual cycle in simple, age-appropriate language. Students learned that cycles can vary, that periods are normal, and that good hygiene habits help protect health and comfort. The session covered changing menstrual products regularly, washing hands, bathing, keeping underwear clean, and seeking help when symptoms feel severe or unusual.

At the Myth Versus Fact Station, students tackled the kind of misinformation that keeps period shame alive. They explored common beliefs about menstruation, including whether period blood is dirty, whether girls should feel ashamed, whether students can participate in school activities during their periods, and whether boys and men should understand menstruation. The format made it fun, but the learning was important. Myths thrive in silence. Facts give young people confidence.

At the Male Allyship and Gender Dialogue Station, led by Jerry James Jang of SWAG Initiative, boys and girls had a needed conversation about behaviour. They talked about teasing, laughing, spreading rumours, and treating menstruation like something disgusting. Then they talked about better choices: respecting privacy, refusing to mock girls, speaking kindly, and supporting access to products and information. This was one of the most important parts of the event because boys are often left out of menstrual health conversations, even though their words and actions can either deepen shame or help end it.

At the Storytelling and Video Message Booth, led by Lucy Umeh of Shades of Us, students created short messages about menstrual dignity. They spoke about confidence, support, respect, and ending shame. It was giving youth advocacy, but in the most grounded way. The students were not just receiving information. They were finding their own voices and using them.

At the Menstrual Hygiene Product Awareness Station, Florence Shadrack of Shades of Us introduced students to different menstrual hygiene products, including disposable pads, reusable pads, menstrual cups, tampons, and pantyliners. The conversation covered comfort, affordability, access, hygiene, safety, and personal choice. Students asked thoughtful questions, the kind many young people carry quietly because they do not always have safe spaces to ask. The message was clear: there is no one-size-fits-all product, but everyone deserves safe options and accurate information.

At the Reflection and Question Station, students had the chance to ask questions in smaller groups. This mattered because some questions need a softer room. Some students will not raise their hands in a hall of hundreds, but they will speak when the space feels calmer, kinder, and less intimidating.

One of the most meaningful parts of the day was the inclusion of students with disabilities. With the support of sign language interpreters, students with hearing disabilities followed the sessions, asked questions, watched demonstrations, and participated actively. Their presence was not symbolic. They were part of the learning, part of the questions, and part of the conversation. That is what inclusion should look like.

This is also why Dignity in Menstruation is a model worth paying attention to. It combines the things that make behaviour change possible: storytelling, accurate health information, practical skills, inclusive access, male allyship, and student participation. It is not just awareness for awareness’ sake. It is education that students can use, remember, and share.

For partners and donors, the value is clear. A program like this meets a real need, reaches students directly, creates measurable outcomes, and can be replicated in more schools. The impact can be seen in the number of students reached, sessions delivered, reusable pad demonstrations held, schools engaged, and changes in students’ knowledge and confidence. With continued support, this model can grow into a stronger school-based menstrual dignity program that provides education, product access, reusable pad skills, peer advocacy, and inclusive learning.

But beyond the numbers, there is the human impact. A girl who understands her period is less likely to fear it. A boy who understands menstruation is less likely to mock it. A student with a disability who receives accessible menstrual health education is no longer left behind. A school that speaks openly about periods becomes safer for everyone.

That is the real win.

The Dignity in Menstruation and Mobile Cinema Collaboration made one thing clear: young people are ready for these conversations. Given a respectful, engaging space, they'll ask the hard questions, drop the inherited shame, challenge the myths themselves, and show up for each other while doing it.

At Shades of Us, we believe a well-told story can open doors that silence has kept closed for far too long. FLOW gave students a story to feel. The learning stations gave them tools to use. And the partnership with SWAG Initiative and the FCT Secondary Education Board gave all of it a space built on honesty, care, and dignity.

Our thanks go to the Stand With A Girl (SWAG) Initiative, the Federal Capital Territory Secondary Education Board, Government Secondary School Kuje, the teachers, interpreters, facilitators, and students who made the day possible.

Dignity in menstruation means a stained uniform is met with kindness, not ridicule. It means boys grow up understanding periods instead of joking about them. It means students with disabilities have equal access to health information. And it means every girl can understand her body, ask her questions, and stay in school with her confidence intact.

That is a future worth building.