Ladies Without Plastic - Mulher Sem Plástico. By Sofonie Dala, Angola: Advancing Climate Justice Through the SDGs - The Transformation of Education Begins with Teachers. By Sofonie Dala, Angola

Commemorating the Second Anniversary of Africa Educates Her Campaign, Angola

Ladies Without Plastic - Advancing Climate Justice Through the SDGs

Ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to the 3rd edition of this extremely important educational documentary.

In this edition we are providing non-formal training in rural communities to advance climate justice through the SDGs.

Good afternoon!

Good afternoon!

How are you?

We're fine thank you!

How many of you have heard about climate change?

hmmm

Have you ever heard about climate change?

No.

And the environment?

Not either.

Never heard of the environment?

No, never.

Today we are going to talk about the importance you can have in protecting the environment. We will also talk about environmental pollution.

Did you know that plastic pollutes the environment?

We didn't know.

Seriously?

Hello! I am Sofonie Dala, we are here in rural communities to include people from this social group to participate in environmental protection ideas.

We will talk about the role these rural girls can play to protect the environment and we will also talk about the importance of reusable menstrual pads in the life of women and girls.

How many of you here already menstruate?

Both of us.

Take this. Have you ever heard about these types of sanitary napkins?

Yup.

What is this called?

Hmm absorbent.

These are reusable menstrual pads.

Do you use this type?

No no.

Girls what kind of menstrual pad do you use?

We use the plastic menstrual pad.

Did you know that plastic menstrual pads pollute the environment?

We didn't know.

Yes, plastic menstrual pads pollute the environment. We girls must be very careful with these products. Especially you little girls who haven't started menstruating yet. When you start menstruating, look for these washable and reusable pads.

Pay attention, reusable pads are better than plastic menstrual pads.

Plastic menstrual pads take many years to decompose, generate greenhouse gases and cause global warming.

Many girls miss school because they don't have the money to buy plastic menstrual pads which are very expensive.

That's why we should use reusable menstrual pads to protect the environment. In addition, they are also more economical and sustainable. They can last for 4 years and you won't have to spend money monthly to buy menstrual pads.

Let's all wear reusable menstrual pads to protect the environment.

What I have here is organic cotton, we bought this to be producing washable and reusable towels and distributing them free of charge to girls in rural communities.

Taking pledge

Girls giving good testimonies of what they learned today.

Hello!

My name isTeresa, I'm 15 years old and I want to protect my menstrual health.

Before I was using plastic pads, now I will be using reusable menstrual pads, because I now know that plastic pads pollute the environment.

With these softer, reusable and washable pads, thousands of girls like Teresa will be able to stay in school and create a future for themsleves.

Ladies without plastic, I'm going to get rid of the plastic pads.

SAY NO TO SINGLE USE PLASTIC PADS AND LET'S END PERIOD POVERTY

We advocate for behavioral change to reduce earth vulnerability to climate change and global warming from disposable sanitary pads, at the same time mobilizing women and girls to switch back to the use of reusable sanitary pads.

Our mission is to empower women who face extreme poverty to become self-sufficient and entrepreneurial by teaching them how to make the pads themselves and enabling them to turn their acquired skill into a business.

Children singing in chorus: Let's use reusable products.

Fight against climate change, let's all protect the environment!

No young girl should miss school because of her period!

Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets, hand washing facilities, and, or, waste management and affects millions of girls and women worldwide.

Every month, 1.8 billion people across the world menstruate. Millions of girls and women are by period poverty not only in developing countries but also in developed countries and millions of girls and women cannot attend school or work due to lack of menstrual products or clean sanitary facilities.