Did you know that girls in Rwanda miss up to 50 days of school a year? No access to menstrual products, feelings of shame and the taboo surrounding periods - unfortunately, all of this is still far too often part of everyday life for many young girls and women around the world and ultimately results in a sad equal opportunities record.our partner project Dukataze from Rwanda is working to ensure that this will soon be a thing of the past!

Dukataze fights against period poverty (i.e. the lack of access to menstrual products) and against the stigmatization of young women during their period. The goal: No girl should miss school because of her period and thus have worse opportunities for education. Dukataze - which in English means something like " Keep going! " - is committed to raising awareness and removing the taboos surrounding periods by holding workshops at schools over several days.

We at juno&me are grateful and proud that we have been able to gain Dukataze as a long-term partner organization that we support financially and with whom we regularly exchange ideas. With every order from juno&me, you help ensure that 350 girls and boys can take part in the workshops every month. Our next goal is for up to 5,000 young people to be able to take part in 2023! Together we can do this - and much more! Our juno&me team is in regular contact with Dukataze founder Amina Umuhoza . This way, we can learn from each other and always hear directly from Amina how we can best support her and Dukataze.

Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, is not only the official twin city of Mainz, the home of juno&me - juno&me founder Julia also has a close, personal connection to Rwanda. After completing her studies, she worked for an NGO on various projects in Rwanda and met the young Rwandan poet, political activist and founder of Dukataze, Amina Umuhoza, through the Rhineland-Palatinate & Rwanda partnership association. In an interview, Amina tells our founder Julia what is particularly important to her in her work.

Julia: Dear Amina, what kind of feedback do you get from the participants of your workshops?

Amina: We at Dukataze are often the only people young people can talk to openly about their periods or sexuality. Many topics are not discussed at home, and misinformation often circulates among peers - about the female cycle, contraception and much more.

Julia: You are also fighting against period poverty. Tell us more about it!

Amina: Many girls in Rwanda face the same problem every month: They don't go to school during their period - because they are ashamed, afraid of soiling their school uniform or because they simply don't have access to period products. Many homemade emergency solutions offer inadequate protection or are even dangerous to their health. With Dukataze we offer psychological, social and economic help, we offer seminars and multi-day workshops directly in schools or communities and organize action days and events. And we show them how to make reusable sanitary pads at home that will make them feel safe in everyday life during their period.

AMINA UMUHOZA
CEO & Founder, Dukataze

Julia: Your workshops are aimed at girls and boys. Why is it so important to include everyone?

Amina: Dukataze's workshops and seminars are not just aimed at girls and women - young men are also actively involved. This is the only way to permanently remove the taboo surrounding periods and to educate people about unwanted pregnancies, sexual violence and much more. This will ensure that real rethinking takes place in the long term and real equality of opportunity can emerge.

As you know, it is a matter close to our hearts to advocate for female empowerment and to do our part to ensure that women around the world feel good and confident about their bodies - every day, even during their period! And we are working hard to ensure that one day topics relating to the female body and our cycle will no longer be taboo or even shameful.

The best thing is that you can also join in and make a difference. Simply by supporting our partner project Dukataze through your purchases at juno&me and enabling even more young people to take part in the workshops. Or even by becoming active in your own circle of friends and speaking openly about supposedly taboo topics and gradually normalizing them.