Annual Menstrual Hygiene Festival

Festival Scale and Scope

Held annually on May 28th in alignment with Global Menstrual Hygiene Day, our festival has grown from a modest gathering of 200 participants in 2019 to a major community event drawing over 1,500 attendees in 2023. The festival serves as a massive localized summit, bringing together diverse stakeholders in a celebration of menstrual health and dignity.

Who Attends

The festival's strength lies in its diversity. Participants include:

Students from our partner schools (typically 800-1,000 young people)
Teachers and school administrators committed to supporting student health
Healthcare professionals providing information and services
Parents and community elders learning alongside their children
Local government officials including district health directors and education officers
Traditional leaders and chiefs whose cultural authority helps legitimize the conversation
NGO partners working in related fields
Media representatives covering the event for television, radio, and print
Corporate sponsors demonstrating social responsibility

This diverse attendance ensures that the festival's messages reach every sector of society, creating a multiplier effect that extends far beyond the event itself.

Festival Programming: A Day of Celebration and Education

The festival operates from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, packed with activities designed to educate, entertain, and inspire. The programming evolves each year based on participant feedback and emerging priorities.

Opening Ceremony: Setting the Tone

The festival opens with a vibrant ceremony featuring traditional drumming and dancing, immediately establishing that this is a celebration, not a somber health lecture. Local dignitaries, including chiefs and government officials, offer remarks that publicly validate the importance of menstrual health.

Interactive Health Zones: Learning Through Engagement

The festival features multiple themed zones where participants engage with health information through interactive experiences:

The Body Knowledge Zone:

Anatomical models and interactive displays explaining reproductive health
"Ask a Doctor" booths where participants can consult with gynecologists and nurses privately
Health screening stations offering basic checks (blood pressure, BMI, anemia screening)
Demonstrations of proper hygiene practices, including handwashing and pad changing

The Sustainability Pavilion:

Live demonstrations of Obaa Reusable Pads production, showing how the pads are sewn and assembled
Exhibitions comparing the environmental impact of disposable vs. reusable products
Workshops teaching participants to make their own cloth pads
Displays of innovative menstrual products from around the world

The Nutrition and Wellness Corner:

Information about nutrition during menstruation (iron-rich foods, hydration)
Cooking demonstrations of affordable, nutritious meals for menstruating girls
Yoga and relaxation sessions teaching stress management techniques
Fitness activities showing that exercise is healthy and beneficial during menstruation

Cultural Performances: Art as Advocacy

The festival's cultural programming is designed to challenge stigma through entertainment, using humor and storytelling to make difficult conversations accessible.

Theater and Drama: Local troupes perform plays addressing menstrual health using comedy to disarm defensiveness. "The Red Flower," following a girl's journey from shame to confidence, has been performed at 8 festivals.

Music and Dance: Traditional drumming and dance celebrate womanhood, reconnecting menstruation with cultural traditions of respect.

Spoken Word and Poetry: Youth perform original works about menstruation and body image, extending the festival's reach through social media.

Visual Arts: Local artists display works addressing menstrual themes. Our 2023 photography exhibition featured portraits of women holding menstrual products with pride.

Sports and Activities

Pad Relay Race: Teams carry pads through obstacle courses, making the event playful and competitive.

Football and Netball: Girls' teams compete throughout the day, challenging myths about menstruation and sports.

Yoga Sessions: Instructors lead poses that relieve cramps, normalizing conversations about menstrual discomfort.

Pad Fashion Show

Students design outfits incorporating sanitary pads, transforming a product associated with shame into creative expression. Winners receive prizes and calendar features. Schools now hold preliminary competitions to select representatives.

Panel Discussions

Youth Panel: Peer Educators share experiences and advocate for change.

Policy Dialogue: Officials discuss removing taxes on menstrual products and improving school sanitation.

Men's Forum: Fathers and community leaders explore how men can support menstrual health initiatives.

Healthcare Roundtable: Medical professionals discuss conditions like endometriosis and PCOS that often go undiagnosed.

Impact and Growth

Attendance:

2019: 200 attendees
2021: 600 attendees (2,000+ virtual)
2023: 1,500+ attendees from 4 regions

Media Reach: TV, radio, and social media reaching 50,000+ people annually.

Policy Changes:

12 schools installed emergency pad dispensers
5 district assemblies allocated menstrual health funds
3 traditional councils issued public support statements

Community Voices:

Ama's Father: "I was uncomfortable at first. But seeing hundreds talking openly made me realize how wrong I'd been. Now I buy pads for my daughter without embarrassment."

Nurse Patricia: "After the 2022 festival, we saw a 40% increase in young women seeking help."

Chief Togbe: "I watched my granddaughters gain confidence. Now I open every festival with a blessing."

Festival Operations

Planning: 6-month timeline covering venue booking, sponsor outreach, volunteer training, and logistics.

Requirements: Open space for 2,000+ people, stage, health screening areas, accessible facilities, security.

Budget: GHS 50,000 covering venue, performers, materials, food, and transportation subsidies.

Volunteers: 100+ volunteers manage registration, health zones, stage crew, and documentation.

Challenges: Weather disruptions, security planning, cultural resistance, and resource constraints. We address these through scheduling in drier months, coordinating with police, working with traditional leaders, and prioritizing high-impact activities.

Looking Forward

Regional expansion launches in 2024 with satellite festivals in Northern and Central Regions. Virtual integration extends reach to rural communities and the diaspora. The festival drives policy change and community acceptance of menstrual health as a normal part of life.