In the quiet classrooms of Ifangni, something powerful is unfolding — not through lectures or textbooks, but through fabric, thread, and purpose.
As part of the project “Mes menstrues, Mon droit, Je réclame”, supported by the African Women’s Development Fund, FAWE-Bénin is leading a transformative journey. In ten secondary schools across the commune, 300 schoolgirls are learning a skill that goes far beyond sewing — they are learning to reclaim their dignity.

One stitch at a time, these girls are mastering how to make reusable sanitary pads. It may sound simple. But it’s revolutionary.

They’re learning to:

  • Design and trace the patterns of a pad,
  • Sew by hand with precision and care,
  • Cut, layer, and assemble fabrics into something that changes lives.

Because for many girls, managing menstruation is not just a monthly concern — it’s a barrier. A reason to skip school. A source of silence, shame, or missed opportunity. This training gives them more than just a solution. It gives them agency.

But what makes this initiative even more inspiring is the ripple effect. These 300 girls are not only beneficiaries — they are becoming peer educators, passing the knowledge to classmates, creating a culture of solidarity, and ensuring that no girl is left behind because of her period.

This is what empowerment looks like: not waiting for the world to change, but equipping girls with the tools — literal and metaphorical — to change it themselves.

At FAWE-Bénin, we believe that menstrual health is not a luxury, it’s a right. And that when you teach a girl to sew a pad, you’re not just teaching her a skill — you’re affirming her worth.