20/03/2026
Today, Zambia Alliance of Women, with support from International Alliance of Women ,under the Water and Pads Project visited Dzikomo Primary School in Ndola. The engagement, led by our Executive Director, Edah Chimya, Ceasar Katebe Programmes Manager and Deborah Mchulu Participatory Governance and Membership Development Lead,focused on promoting health, dignity, and safety for both girls and boys.
During the session with the girls, we held an in-depth discussion on menstrual hygiene management. We emphasized that menstruation is a natural and healthy process and encouraged the girls to manage it with confidence and without shame. Practical guidance was provided on the proper use and disposal of sanitary pads, maintaining personal hygiene, and the importance of staying in school during their periods. We also created a safe and supportive space for the girls to ask questions and share their experiences.
The girls also highlighted key challenges affecting their ability to manage their hygiene with dignity. These included limited access to clean and reliable water, as well as a lack of adequate and flushable sanitation facilities at the school. These challenges make it difficult for them to maintain proper hygiene, particularly during menstruation, and can negatively impact their comfort and school attendance.
We further sensitized the girls on gender-based violence (GBV), helping them understand what it is, how it manifests, and how to respond. We emphasized the importance of knowing their rights, setting boundaries, and reporting any form of abuse to trusted adults and relevant authorities.
We also held a dedicated session with the boys, creating an open and honest platform for engagement. The boys raised concerns around the lack of mentorship and expressed that many programs tend to focus primarily on girls, leaving them feeling excluded. They also highlighted practical challenges, including limited access to hygiene-related materials such as soap and shaving sticks, which are essential for their personal care and wellbeing.
In response, we engaged the boys on personal hygiene, emphasizing cleanliness, self-care, and overall wellbeing. We also held an important discussion on gender-based violence (GBV), helping them understand what constitutes GBV, the impact it has on individuals and communities, and the role they can play in preventing it. The conversation focused on respect, consent, positive masculinity, and the importance of rejecting harmful behaviors such as bullying, teasing, and harassment.
We encouraged the boys to become champions of change by supporting their female peers, speaking out against violence, and contributing to creating safe and inclusive school environments for everyone.
This engagement not only provided vital knowledge but also highlighted critical gaps in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, as well as access to basic hygiene materials that require urgent attention.
