Silence to Visibility: Ending Period Poverty in Cameroon
Menstruation is natural. Yet for millions of women and girls, it is a monthly struggle marked by silence, stigma, and exclusion. Across Africa and globally, period poverty continues to limit access to education, health, and dignity. More than 500 million people lack access to menstrual products and safe facilities, making menstrual health not just a personal issue, but a public health and human rights concern.
In Cameroon, the reality is urgent. High costs of sanitary pads, harmful taxation, and persistent stigma force women and girls to adopt unsafe coping mechanisms. Many miss school. Others face health risks and social exclusion. This is the gap that Voices for Transformation Initiative is working to close.
Through the #EndTaxOnPad237 campaign, we are transforming silence into visibility. Using digital advocacy, storytelling, and community engagement, we are amplifying voices, influencing leaders, and building a movement for menstrual justice.
Watch this video that was produced during the Women of the South Speak Out (WOSSO) Fellowship in partnership with AAGYW Coalition.
This campaign has already reached over 10,400 people, engaged policymakers, and inspired youth-led initiatives now funded and implemented in communities. It has also nurtured a new generation of advocates who are leading change from the grassroots.
But this is only the beginning.
Why This Matters
Menstrual health is directly linked to education, economic empowerment, gender equality, and dignity. When a girl cannot manage her period safely, her future is interrupted. When policies fail, inequality deepens.
Our Vision
We are building a future where:
- No girl misses school because of her period
- No woman is forced into unsafe choices
- Menstrual health is recognized as a right, not a privilege
Call to Action
We invite you to stand with us.
- Expand community outreach and education
- Provide menstrual health resources
- Strengthen policy advocacy to remove taxes on sanitary pads
- Scale impact through youth-led initiatives
- Contact votinitiative36gmail.com let us bring change together
👉 Partner with us. Fund change. Amplify voices.
Together, we can end period poverty and build a world where every woman and girl lives with dignity.
