In Bogo, northern Cameroon, classrooms lose more adolescent girls with each passing month. The reason is rarely spoken about openly: menstruation. Without access to sanitary products and safe spaces, many girls simply stay home, missing lessons, falling behind, and gradually disengaging from school. Silence does not only surround menstruation. Girls experiencing harassment, violence or emotional distress often have nowhere safe to turn. In the absence of support systems, silence becomes a survival strategy.
AFAIRD Cameroun, with support from Urgent Action Fund Africa, set out to change this reality, tackling the interconnected barriers that keep girls out of school. At the Lycée Bilingue de Bogo and surrounding schools, AFAIRD provided 300 girls with reusable sanitary pads, paired with open discussions on menstrual health and reproductive rights. A confidential listening centre was established, providing a safe space where girls could speak freely and be referred for support. More than 100 tutoring sessions helped strengthen academic performance, while 218 nutritional kits were distributed to support girls’ wellbeing. Transport assistance, through 335 tickets, ensured that distance was no longer a barrier to accessing education and support services
Aïssatou, who once missed school every month, now attends consistently and participates actively in class. Mariamou’s attendance stabilised after nutritional support eased financial pressure at home. Fatou, previously absent from tutoring sessions due to a lack of transport, now attends regularly and is improving academically.
“Before, the girls suffered in silence. Today, they know they can speak and be heard,” – M.Tchoundra, a school teacher
Perhaps most striking is an unexpected shift: The girls themselves are becoming leaders. Peer groups have emerged, with girls facilitating discussions on menstrual health, mentoring classmates, and encouraging others to seek support. As one of the peer educator girls puts it, “Before, we were shy. Today, other girls come to us for advice”
This reflects the power of feminist funding, supporting grassroots organisations to create safe spaces, shift norms and amplify girls’ voices from within their communities. Flexible funding enables organisations like AFAIRD to address interconnected challenges from menstrual health to safe spaces and academic support.
