At GNWL we believe 1 girl, 1 pencil, 1 menstrual health educator can prevent girls from skipping classes or dropping out of school and help to break the period shaming stigma. Bienvenue Konsimbo is the founder of Girl Now, Woman Later, an organization dedicated to menstrual education. She is combating period poverty in Burkina Faso, Africa through the ripple effect of 1 voice. The moment of her first period has inspired her to empower girls during this stage of life.
Advocacy emphasis for this year is gender-safe, sanitary bathrooms in schools, and (of course)
MORE ACCESS TO PERIOD PRODUCTS.
What was it like growing up in Burkina Faso?
My experience in Burkina Faso was great growing up with my siblings. My brothers were very supportive of me and my younger sister, though they were a bit less traditional and protective when it came to dating. I guess that’s how anybody would be maybe because they must assume the role of my dad, who passed away when I was 15.
But I have to say that I was also fortunate enough to have studied in a public school and a boarding school because my older brother made sure of it. My upbringing was very average. My parents were simple people. I mean, no fancy houses or possessions, they could care less about changing living conditions. I was born in a large family compound house, which my grandfather on my dad’s side had built. The compound was sectioned to house at least three of my uncles, the spouses, the children, and us. I was never bored because I grew up with my cousins.
What was your first period like?
My experience, having my 1st period, was different. I remember exactly what happened that day, even years later. When I started cleaning and saw the blood on my panties, I became scared and petrified – I thought something was wrong with me, that I would die. I went straight to my mom because I knew that if I go to her, she’s the only person I knew could solve the problem, whatever I’m having she will help me with it. However, my mom responded with just 3 things:
I didn’t question those three things. I could see on her face that she was not happy or smiling. Instead, she was more worried because during that time in the 1990s, growing up, there was an influx of young girls getting pregnant. And probably during that time, she was scared for me because once I get my period, what’s the next thing? ‘Oh, she probably would get pregnant in the next few years.’ A lot of girls, and a few of my friends got pregnant. That’s something that was very common. That’s where her worry was.
At the time, I didn’t see it as something strange or unusual. The fact that people were not talking about it, the fact that I was not able to have a conversation with my own parents about my period, I did not see it. I wasn’t conscious enough, because I was much younger, and probably naive. I didn’t realize that not talking about it, should not have happened during that time.
I don’t remember having a conversation with my girlfriends or school friends. And even if you did talk, you would do it in a hush-hush kind of way.
When did you realize you should talk about your period?
I never complained about it until I left for the country years later, when I found that it shouldn’t have been that way. In my 20s it bothered me. It was like an awakening, I was sad and wondering, why was I not being taught about what it means, how was it not spoken about it? What was wrong with me that the conversation did not happen during that time?
Even in public schools, still to this day, menstruation is not part of the curriculum. There are still girls who probably went through what I went through, maybe worse. It is up to an outsider, a nonprofit organization, to come in and offer those workshops. It’s a universal phenomenon outside of the western world, it’s still ongoing and still existing.
Can you talk about the current menstruation stigma in Burkina Faso?
There is still very much a taboo around it. We want to break down the taboo by having a conversation, which includes parents. We want to offer that parents participate during our menstruation workshops, because if they participate, that will take out the shame of this. It brings them closer to their daughters, so they have that conversation when they go back home.
Even worse is that boys are not included in the conversation. Having a separate workshop for boys where we provide vital education on nutrition and health, to show them how to be a good citizen and how to react when a friend is experiencing their period. They might not have products but just being there, and helping the girl find the next person who does. It’s something small that breaks barriers.
What is period poverty?
Period poverty is when a girl, or her family, does not have the financial means to provide her with hygienic period care. Burkina Faso, a low-income country, has had numerous inflation changes at the moment. There is insecurity for the past 10 years, due to the insurrection of multiple terrorist groups. Plus the taxes, particularly on period products have always existed. Period products are considered a luxury item. There is a scarcity of products in most average stores compared to the high-end ones. Imported tampons or pads can range from 2.50 to 11 dollars each. But the ones from the lower income countries are 1 – 1.50 dollars each.
What are the solutions?
One of the direct, immediate solutions is to start building gender-safe bathrooms. This ensures that the boys and girls are given privacy. I can tell you that ALL our partner schools do not have adequate bathrooms. When a girl must use a bathroom, she does not have a private area for her to change and do what she needs to do. Washing areas are a primary necessity which should already be in place but, unfortunately, are not.
The best thing anyone can do is to point out the taboo by having a conversation.
Why Girl Now, Woman Later?
Girl Now Woman Later was founded in March 2020. After my Master’s, I was figuring out the next step. Will I go home and find a job in the African region? Or just stay here and continue working on finding a different type of job? What is something I can do for my hometown, for my home country?
I thought about my own experience when I was having my period, it could have been better. My experience should have been different.
So, I started researching for any positive change about periods since I left Burkina Faso. During the pandemic, I found nothing had changed, if not worsened depending on what part of the country you’re talking about. Burkina Faso just had not changed.
We did a lot of research to find out what prevented girls from getting a high school degree. Based on research, we found that there are many issues – among them is child marriage. 50% of girls would get married before they reached the age of 18. Another issue is that girls, when they had a period, would skip classes or they would drop out of school because of the shame and taboo associated with their period.
What's the meaning behind the name?
The name Girl Now Woman Later has meaning behind it. We thought of our own childhood growing up, how we were not valued. We grew up and we have potential and as a girl, we can accomplish whatever we want to do or become.
But those girls there, they don’t know because nobody’s telling them that. As an organization, we want to tell them that as a girl, you have the potential one day when you become a woman – to be who you want to be, on your own terms, at your own time.
My hope for the organization is to expand in the French-speaking region of Africa, because the access to menstrual education and feminine products is very limited compared to the English-speaking part.
