Purpose behind My Experience

I was only a younger Girl in College, who was trying to catch up with her studies when an unexpected experience initiated our #Istandwithgirls movement. 

My first 'Period' experience was naive. I loved to play with my younger male siblings,  and so on this day we were playing when on of them called my attention to the 'tomato looking' stain on my light grey mini skirt. I didn't  quite understand what it meant, nor what to do, so I ran to my Mother. She introduced me to tissue paper  showing me how to carefully wrap it around my underwear,  and before I left her sight she added; 'you shouldn't play with boys anymore,  you can become pregnant!' This new experience me sad. 

\"I wondered why something they say is good, should deprive me of  my Association\" Gloria Kasi

When I got older, I enrolled at Dental College Enugu, Nigeria and lived at the College's dormitory.

I didn't quite think 'my period' would come out on that fateful day. Now, I had improved from the use of 'tissue papers' to a healthy sanitary Pad, but then, I had ran out of the sanitary Pad.

I quickly headed to a grocery store around my College to purchase my Pad but was surprised to know the retail price had tripled from what it had been. I pleaded with them, to no avail. I ran back to my dormitory to complete the cash to what asked for.  

As I returned to my College now, after I had bought the 'sanitary Pad' I began wondering the fate of younger girls in high schools who may be struggling to afford a Pad. This was how I initiated; \"Gloria Kasi's #Istandwithgirls campaign alongside Oak Aid Foundation.

We distributed 'Healthy Sanitary Pads' to over 1, 000 School girls and their Female teachers free of charge.

We visited these school girls at their schools alongside Certified Health workers, who took them on proper hygiene, and all they needed to know about Menstruation. 

It was during our interactions with them we discovered some girls make use of pieces of clothes,  feathers,  cotton wool, tissue papers and other unhealthy things for their periods or are forced to abstain from studies. 

We also had a Peaceful #Istandwithgirls walk in my City to sensitize law makers against unfavourable conditions surrounding Menstruation. We hope to do more.

\"Period is a blessing we didn't choose, and should be treated as one.\"