Menstruation Is Power
Advancing Menstrual Health and Dignity in Haiti
Menstruation should never prevent a girl from attending school, participating in her community, or making decisions about her own body.
In Haiti, limited access to menstrual products, persistent stigma, and lack of education continue to restrict opportunities for women and girls. For families living on less than one dollar a day, purchasing disposable products often competes with buying food. Silence and misinformation further isolate those experiencing menstrual discomfort or reproductive health conditions.
The Menstruation Is Power (MIP) program was created to break this cycle by combining education, sustainable solutions, and community trust.
Launched in 2022, Menstruation Is Power addresses menstrual health from both a social and practical perspective.
The program provides:
- Age-appropriate menstrual health education
- Workshops on bodily autonomy and hygiene
- Open conversations to dismantle stigma
- Access to sustainable menstrual products
Workshops are delivered annually by a trained team of facilitators using a tailored curriculum developed in partnership with My African Womanhood. Educational materials are distributed to reinforce peer learning and long-term understanding.
By equipping girls with knowledge about their menstrual cycle and reproductive health, we help them stay in school, build confidence, and participate fully in community life.
From its early stages, the program prioritized reusable menstrual products as a long-term, cost-effective alternative to disposable options.
Initial support included the donation of 1,000 reusable menstrual cups, allowing hundreds of girls to access safe and sustainable menstrual care. Over time, Womenful Voice continued sourcing products independently to ensure continuity and scale.
Field insights revealed that reusable pads, while helpful, often require consistent water access for safe washing. In areas where water is scarce, improper cleaning can increase health risks.
As a result, the program has strategically transitioned toward a cup-focused model. Through a new partnership with The CUP Foundation and Lunette, Menstruation Is Power now prioritizes menstrual cups as the most sustainable and hygienic long-term solution.
This model reduces monthly costs for families, minimizes environmental waste, and provides up to ten years of menstrual protection from a single product.
Measurable Impact Since Launch
Since its inception, the Menstruation Is Power program has distributed over 900 reusable menstrual products to women and girls across Haiti.
Beyond product distribution, the impact includes:
Increased school attendance during menstrual cycles
Significant financial savings for families
Greater comfort and confidence among participants
Expanded conversations around menstrual health and reproductive rights
Regular feedback and usage evaluations confirm that access to sustainable menstrual solutions improves both social participation and economic stability.
Products Distributed
Expanding Health Literacy and Community Trust
Menstrual health is deeply connected to broader reproductive and sexual health education.
The program has expanded to include awareness initiatives addressing endometriosis and menstrual-related health conditions. Following limited access to on-the-ground clinical collaboration, educational efforts transitioned into a digital-first awareness model featuring medical guidance and advocacy content to increase visibility and understanding.
Looking ahead, Menstruation Is Power is strengthening institutional partnerships with secondary schools and universities to scale structured education and access. The program will:
Deliver workshops across multiple educational institutions
- Educate 1,500 women and girls on menstrual health, sexual health, and endometriosis awareness
- Provide 600 menstrual cups with comprehensive hygiene training
- Launch targeted awareness campaigns for mothers, guardians, and students to deepen community trust
By engaging both young women and their caregivers, the program builds acceptance and long-term adoption of sustainable menstrual solutions.
Restoring Dignity, Expanding Opportunity
Menstrual health is not only a hygiene issue. It is a matter of dignity, education, and equality.
Through education, sustainable access, and stigma reduction, Menstruation Is Power creates conditions where:
Girls remain in school
Women participate fully in community life
Families reduce recurring financial strain
Conversations about reproductive health become normalized
This program reflects Womenful Voice’s broader commitment to gender equity, health literacy, and sustainable development in Haiti.
