REMEMBERING|| Ladies without plastic - Green Menstruation. Environmental challenge by Sofonie Dala, Angola. Day 10

 WEBISODE FROM 02/12/2021

Ladies without plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints 👣 

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, 

Welcome to tenth day of our environmental challenge Women Without Plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints! 

Amenorrhea is when a girl’s menstrual bleeding (period) doesn’t occur. Primary amenorrhea is when the first menstrual bleeding at puberty doesn’t occur by age 15. Delayed puberty in girls occurs when breasts don't develop by age 13 or menstrual periods do not begin by age 16.

Although most girls get their first period when they're around 12, our today's guests have already reached 14 years of age and are still not menstruating.~

 Interview with Georgina

Good afternoon young lady!

Good afternoon.

What is your name?

My name is Georgina.

How old are you?

I'm 14 years old.

Which of these pads do you use?

None of them.

Why?

Because I'm not menstruating yet.

Oh, haven't you started menstruating yet?

Not yet.

Is this normal to happen in your family?

Yes.

How old do girls start menstruating in your family?

With 16 years of age.

Who started menstruating at the age of 16 in your family?

My mother and my sisters.

Is this natural to happen in your family? Have you ever consulted a doctor to find out why you have late menstruation?

No, we didn't consult the doctor.

If your mom didn’t get their period until they were 15 or older, chances are that being a late bloomer runs in your family. That may especially be true if your aunts, grandmothers, and cousins also started menstruating only after they were well into high school. 

 Girls usually start their periods between 10 and 16 years of age. Most girls get their first period when they're around 12. It’s a sign that your body is maturing, so that one day, if you want to, you should be able to have a baby.

Interview with Vilcya

~

Hey, good afternoon!

Good afternoon!

What is your name?

My name is Vilcya.

Vicya how old are you?

I'm 14 years old.

Okay, can you tell us which of these pads you use?

Well, I don't use any.

Why?

Because I haven't started menstruating yet.

oh, 14 years old, and still not menstruating?

Yes it's true.

Are these cases common in your family?

Yes.

At what age do women usually start menstruating in your family?

Women in my family start menstruating at the age of 17.

Seriously?

Yes Yes,

OK thanks.

How does climate affect your menstrual cycle?

While climate change does not directly affect your period, it results in a lot of other changes that can throw your cycle off-balance: changes in your food habits, differences in your exercise patterns, increased levels of stress. Moreover, many factors that affect the timing menarche in girls could be affected by climate change.

Research from climatology was incorporated to describe how climate change events, including increased hurricanes, avalanches/mudslides/landslides, and extreme weather events could alter the age of menarche by disrupting food availability or via increased toxin/pollutant release. These perturbations in the timing of menarche are likely to increase the disease burden for women in four key areas: mental health, fertility-related conditions, cardiovascular disease, and bone health. In summary, the climate does have the potential to impact women’s health through perturbation in the timing of menarche and this, in turn, will affect women’s risk of disease in future.

REMEMBERING|| Ladies without plastic - Green Menstruation. Environmental challenge by Sofonie Dala, Angola. Day 9

 WEBISODE FROM 01/12/2021

Women without plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints 👣 

Greetings for the day! 

Welcome to the ninth day of the Green Menstruation Challenge!

In the long run, a lack of education can have several devastating impacts on a girl's life, including the possibility of child marriage, early pregnancy and vulnerability to violence and abuse. 

Our program is supporting communities around the world with a life-changing skill and helping to protect the environment at the same time.

Today we have Marcelina, she has been participating actively in many of our shows, and now she is going to share with us about her  hygiene preferences.

Hello!

Hi. 

Please tell us which of these pads do you use?

I use this disposable pad. 

Can you tell why?

Well, I use this to protect myself. Furthermore, once I have used this pad, I can easily throw it away. 

Why is the cloth absorbent not your preference? 

Simply because I don't like to wash.

Safe, affordable menstrual products are essential for anyone who menstruates. But around the world, millions of women, girls and people who menstruate can’t afford to buy or don’t have reliable access to the safe menstrual products they need.

The use of conventional, disposable menstrual products is harming the environment. Most sanitary pads contain up to 90% plastic, while tampons have plastic applicators and sometimes come in individual plastic wrappers. The production of plastic and improper disposal of these products is causing pollution and filling up landfills.

Period poverty, including the stigma that often surrounds menstruation, stops many people from going to school or work, leading them to miss out on their education or vital income to support themselves and their families.

Special song from Marcia

Hello, my name is Marcia, since we are experiencing difficult moments in this pandemic, I will sing a song that has always comforted me.

Jesus died on the cross for me

Jesus died on the cross for me

he was falling and getting up, 

broken he was, 

abandoned by death

even so, he still said Father forgive them 

because they don't know what they do

Click here to watch free the entire program: 

https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/02/remembering-last-day-of-africa-educates.html?m=1

 CORONA VOICE . THE TOK SHOW WITH SOFONIE DALA 

As the pandemic has pressed on, people have found innovative ways to come together. There have been dances of gratitude, dances with masks, dances that connect, as a way of encouraging people to dance their blues away.

Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you our dancer Marcelina!

                                 

Hello everyone! My name is Marcelina. I have not been studying since May 1, 2020 because of  the covid-19, but this does not stop me from dancing.

How are you all making work under lockdown and what concerns has this crisis raised for you? 

Lockdown has given us permission to reimagine what making art might look like.

CLICK HERE TO FIND MORE ABOUT MARCIA: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/01/corona-voice-angola-tok-show-with_27.html?m=1

REMEMBERING|| Green Menstruation. Environmental challenge by Sofonie Dala, Angola. Day 8

 WEBISODE FROM 30 NOV 2021

Our Africa Educates her Campaign season 5 is on going 

Green Menstruation - Webisode 8

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, 

Welcome to the eighth  day of our environmental challenge Women Without Plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints! 

Girls’ education can strengthen climate strategies in three ways: by empowering girls and advancing her reproductive health and rights, fostering girls’ climate leadership and pro-environmental decision-making, and developing girls’ green skills for green jobs.

 

Isabel Marques is our guest today, she will share a little about her hygiene preferences, and she will know the consequences of her choices.

Good morning lady!

Good Morning.

What's your name?

My name is Isabel Marques.

How old are you?

I am 28 years old.

Okay. Which of these pads do you use?

I use the disposable.

Why do you prefer this one?

Because I like it more.

Have you ever used the reusable absorbent?

No, never used it.

Wouldn't you like to try it?

I don't know, I never thought about that.

Did you know that this disposable pad contains plastics that harm the environment causing global warming?

No, I didn't know that.

For this reason, we recommend using the washable absorbent.

Okay, I'll try using the cloth pad, let's see what happens.

Well-educated girls and women have been identified as a powerful part of the solution to the climate change problem.  By educating girls, you empower them to be women leaders in their families, communities, and nations “who really understand the context and the challenge.

Countries with a lower rate of girls’ education like Angola, also have higher rates of deaths and illness of women and girls in weather-related disasters. In contrast, 
Countries with more women in government also more likely to adopt climate protection policies. Providing girls with green skills enables adaptation to a world impacted by climate change as well as a changing world of work.

REMEMBERING|| Ladies Without Plastic - Green Menstruation. Environmental challenge by Sofonie Dala, Angola. Webisode 7

 WEBISODE FROM 28 NOV 2021

Our Africa Educates her Campaign season 5 is on going 

Green Menstruation - Webisode 7

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, 

Welcome to the seventh day of our environmental challenge Women Without Plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints! 

Greenhouse emissions 

That little strip of plastic on the back of your pad that holds it in place - not only is it non-biodegradable, but it requires a huge amount of fossil fuel to manufacture.

 Menstrual hygiene products emit about 15 million tonnes of greenhouse gases during the manufacturing process and can take up to 35 million barrels of oil to produce. So if you’re trying to make a greener impact on the world, it’s time to think twice about your period protection.

Our guest today is a tireless girl Engracia, she is always ready to contribute to a greater good of her community.

Good evening!

Good evening.

Which of these two pads do you use?

I use this one, the disposable.

Why?

Because it's the easiest.

But what's easy there?

Because after using it and just take it out and throw it away.

Have you ever used the washable pad?

No.

Why?

Because after using it, I'll have to wash it, touch the blood with my hands, I think it's disgusting. I do not like.

Did you know that disposables contain plastic that pollute the environment?

I did not know.

Did you also know that this menstrual waste when thrown in the landfill causes global warming?

I didn't know either.

New options for feminine hygiene products could greatly reduce solid waste impacts and have other environmental benefits. 

The average person who menstruates will spend 10 years bleeding in her lifetime! She’ll use more than 11,000 tampons or pads during this time. Imagine that piled up in front of you. Now times that by 2 billion (that’s how many women are of menstruating age right now). It’s estimated that worldwide there are around 100 billion menstrual hygiene products disposed of annually. That’s a lot of waste. And each bit of plastic could take between 500 and 800 years to decompose.

So does switching to a more sustainable method for managing your period really make a difference? Yes. It certainly does.

Engracia has always participated in all our campaigns. Let's remember her previous performance

Anatomy Of Action for sustainable lifestyle -Friday, 15 October 2021

.

Hi, Good afternoon!

Hey, good afternoon. My name is Engracia.

Engracia how old are you?

I'm 15 years old.

Could you talk about your lifestyle and the environment where you live?

The situation in our environment is bad. People have been cutting trees constantly, there is a lot of garbage in the street and the burning of tires have been polluting the air.

What are some unsustainable actions in your view that man has been doing that harms the environment?

People urinate on the streets, some foods we eat are not so good, for example the excess of white rice causes anemia, inflames people's faces, eyes turn yellow, eating food without oil and food with a lot of oil also harms our health.

What do you consume that is good for your health?

I eat beans, vegetables and greens.

What kind of beverage do you drink?

I drink water.

Is the water you drink clean?

Some waters are clean and others are dirty.

What do you think we can do to change this situation?

We have to treat the water well. Because if we consume dirty water it will make us sick and we will end up in the hospital.

Click here to learn more: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/10/key-take-away-from-aoa-for-sustainable.html

REMEMBERING|| Ladies without plastic - Green Menstruation. Environmental challenge by Sofonie Dala, Angola. Day 6

 WEBISODES FROM 27 NOVEMBER 2021

Women without plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints 👣

Africa educates her - Green menstruation

Greetings for the day! 

Welcome to the sixth day of the Green Menstruation Challenge!

There is an urgent need to innovate and find sustainable and yet practical solutions to feminine hygiene challenges. 

Today we have in the show our charismatic dancer Laudy. She will share with us about her personal hygiene. Many of you know her.

Hello!

Hi.

What is your name?

My name is Laudy.

How old are you?

I'm 18 years old.

Which of these pads do you use?

I use the disposable pad.

Why?

Because it's more convenient for people.

But why do you prefer this one and not the washable pad?

I don't prefer the reusable pad because I don't want to wash it. I don't feel comfortable touching my blood.

Interesting that menstrual cups, reusable pads and sponges are readily available but haven’t gained much traction so far.The problem with stigma is that it often denies women a vocabulary to deal with the issues around menstrual health and hygiene. Open dialogue is the first step in changing the way women deal with menstruation and can create awareness around the need make a switch.

Laudi has been giving her input in many of our programs. Let's remember her past performance.

Corona Voice - Angola. The tok show with Sofonie Dala.  (Friday, 15 January 2021)

 Corona Dance Angola. Day 43

Pandemic lockdowns might be pervasive, but not all our movements are restricted. This has led to a rise in dance, as people seek fitness, stress relief, healing — and connection.

Our today's guest will show some Covid-19 dancing techniques while staying at home without studying.

Choreography is a conversation.

YO YO YO, quarantine affected me, I spent a long time without studying. Now I'm going to dance!

Quarantine, quarantine quarantine, quarantine

Quarantine, quarantine quarantine, quarantine

YO YO YO, quarantine affected me, I spent a long time without studying. Now I'm going to dance!

Quarantine, quarantine quarantine, quarantine

Quarantine, quarantine quarantine, quarantine

Click here to  see her: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/01/corona-voice-angola-tok-show-with_15.html

Africa Educates Her Campaign - Angola. Season 3.  Webisode 15 (Friday, 1 January 2021)

Happy New Year 

Our girls back to school campaign is ongoing. Day 15

In some places, children have been out of school for 9 months or more. Prolonged school closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are presenting an unprecedented challenge to children’s education, health and well-being worldwide. The longer a student stays out of school, the higher their risk of dropping out.

Our today's guest is Laurinda, she will share with us her academic experience during the time of Covid-19 pandemic.

As a result of covid-19, my school was transformed into a living-house

Hello! My name is Laurinda Mateus. I am 17 years old, I study in the 7th class and I live in Angola.

Laurinda how did the coronavirus affect your studies?

Well, I spent a long time without studying, without writing, without seeing my colleagues and teachers.

Now that schools have reopened you are you studying?

No, I am not studying. 

Why?

Because my school was put up for rent now it's people's home. The school was permanently closed. Some citizens living around my school tested positive for covid-19. This insident forced the government to isolate the entire neighborhood including my school. That area stayed for a long time in the sanitary fence. For this reason the owner of the school made the decision to eliminate all educational services and the school was rented out, thus transforming the school into a home. I saw people living there.

During this time that you are at home, have you done anything to continue learning?

Yes, I am taking a medical course.

Have you been following the coronavirus prevention measures?

Yes, I always wash my hands with water and soap, use alcohol gel and mask.

How do you feel, aren't you afraid of coronavirus?

I'm not afraid. Coronavirus is the one who should be afraid of me.

Click here to learn more about Laurinda:

https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/01/africa-educates-her-campaign-angola.html

REMEMBERING|| Ladies Without Plastic - Green Menstruation Challenge with Sofonie Dala|| Day 5

 Webisode from 26 November 2021

 Our Africa Educates her Campaign season 5 is on going 

Ladies without plastic - key to reduce our carbon footprints

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our green menstruation challenge, where we provide positive workshops and raise awareness about alternative and sustainable menstruation methods!

In developing countries, many girls drop out of school because they cannot afford sanitary pads and tampons. Disposable tampons and pads aren't sustainable, but do women want to talk about it?

Deolinda will share with us about her hygiene preferences and what she thinks about sanitary products.

Good evening girl!

Good evening dear.

How old are you?

I'm 14 years old.

What is your name?

My name is Deolinda.

Okay. Which of these pads do you use?

I use disposable pad.

Why?

Because it's softer and it takes less work to wear.

Why don't you prefer the cloth absorbent?

Because in addition to washing and drying, this is also disgusting and smells bad.

So you don't like using the washable pad because you don't want to smell blood?

Yes, it is disgusting.

Have you ever used the cloth absorbent?

Yes.

Didn't you like the experience?

I didn't like it, it's disgusting, so I prefer to use the disposable pad.

But did you know that disposable absorbent contains plastics that pollute the environment?

Yes, I knew.

And do you still use it?

Yes.

Don't you plan to stop using it someday?

I think it will be impossible.

Not at all, other alternatives are being produced, such as the silicone menstrual cups and washable pads. They are more economical and accessible.

Period poverty is a significant barrier, with girls having to drop out of school because they simply can't afford the menstruation products they need. 

What are the options?

While there are sustainable alternatives on the market, such as silicon menstrual cups, reusable pads and unbleached/organic cotton varieties of disposables, these all remain niche options without huge marketing budgets behind them. 

The same solutions that will make menstruation more sustainable for women in the developed world are what will make it bearable for women in the developing world, who are even more limited in their options.

Interesting links about Deolinda:

Anatomy of Action Challenge for Sustainable Living

Africa Educates Her Campaign 

Girls back to school campaign

The grand finale. Corona Voice - Angola

REMEMBERING|| Ladies Without Plastic - Green Menstruation. Environmental challenge by Sofonie Dala, Angola. Day 4

 WEBISODE FROM 21 NOV 2021

Green Menstruation - Reducing climate change

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, 

Welcome to the 4th day of our environmental challenge : Women Without Plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints! 

Period poverty describes the struggle many low-income women and girls face while trying to afford menstrual products. Difficulty affording menstrual products can cause girls to stay home from school and work, with lasting consequences on their educations and economic opportunities.

Helena Julha is our guest for today. She will share with us about her menstrual journey!

Hello... Good evening!

Good evening, thanks.

What is your name?

My name is Helena Julha.

How old are you?

I'm 17 years old.

Which of these 2 pads do you use?

I use this disposable absorbent.

Why?

This disposable pad makes my life a lot easier. After  using it, I dispose of it directly.

But with the cloth one, I cannot do the same, and I must wash and dry.

Isn't it more economical? You won't always need to spend money to buy disposable pads.

No, after wearing this cloth for a while, it starts to itch and this causes urinary tract infection (rash).

But you must change constantly (several times a day) so as not to cause you itch.

Yes but...

But isn't it more economical?

Yes this is more economical.

Have you ever used the cloth one? 

I never used the cloth one. I don't remember ever using the cloth pad.

And how do you know this causes rash (itching)?

I use to hear what older women say, the ones who prefer to wear this. They say what they feel.

What do you think. Why do older women prefer to use the cloth absorbent and not the disposable one?

I do not know. Some women use washable pads even when they are not menstruating.

OK thanks.

How does menstruation affect the environment?

No, menstruation in itself is not bad for the environment. However, products used to manage menstruation can have a negative impact on the environment, depending on the product and the way it is disposed.

Menstrual products such as tampons and pads often contain plastics and chemicals that are bad for the environment. The time it takes for them to degrade in a landfill is centuries longer than the lifespan of a woman.

More environmentally friendly options include reusable menstrual cups as well as reusable and/or biodegradable pads. 

But in many places, alternative methods are not available or culturally acceptable. In all circumstances, the choice of menstrual product must be acceptable to the people using them. For example, some women are not comfortable with insertable products like menstrual cups. In humid environments, reusable menstrual pads may be difficult to thoroughly dry.

Given the potential environmental consequences of disposable menstrual products, it is important to expand the range of methods available to women, allowing them to make informed choices that fit their needs.

This movement helps to end period poverty in Angola by empowering women and girls in making reusable pads. Disposable pads contains plastic, artificial fragrance and chemical gel. When disposed it takes hundreds and thousands of years to break down in the landfills!

Sofonie Dala - Young Talents from Africa : Ladies Without Plastic - Green Menstruation. Environmental challenge by Sofonie Dala, Angola. Day 4