HOBET Champions Menstrual Hygiene, SRHR for Girls in Crisis-Hit Communities

In a demonstration of commitment to menstrual health and girls' empowerment, Hope for a Better Tomorrow (HOBET), a not-for-profit organisation in Cameroon, marked World Menstrual Hygiene Day by reaching to over 150 Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in the crisis-hit communities with education and menstrual hygiene kits. The activity took place, Sunday May 25, 2025 in Mambanda, Kumba in Meme Division South West.

The Community Outreach which is part of HOBET’s ongoing efforts since 2020, is aimed at promoting Menstrual Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), Countering Sexual and Gender-based Violence (GBV), and challenging harmful gender norms.

Participants in the Mambanda outreach received comprehensive training on general hygiene, menstrual hygiene management (before, during, and after menstruation), sexual/gender-based violence awareness, and comprehensive sexuality education.

A key component of the training was teaching girls how to track their menstrual flow using personalized menstrual beads, which were also distributed.

Each girl also received a dignity kit containing a small bucket, sanitary pads, soap, underwear, hand towels, and menstrual beads - items that are often unaffordable or unavailable due to displacement and poverty linked to the ongoing Anglophone crisis in Cameroon.

Community leaders and participants welcomed the initiative, expressing joy that Mambanda was considered. “We are excited and thankful.

These kits and the training will help our girls stay in school, maintain their health, and build their confidence,” one local leader, Mr. Enongene Joe said.

Speaking during the Mambanda outreach, participants expressed gratitude and pledged to break the silence and stigma around menstruation.

"We are happy our community was chosen," one participant, Eneke Joy shared. "We’ll make good use of this knowledge and help others understand that menstruation is not a curse." Mokake Grace expressed.

“HOBET stands for the dignity and future of girls,” said the Coordinator of HOBET, Ms Tembeng Eli-Anne Anwi. “Even in crisis, girls bleed. They deserve respect, health, and opportunities.” She added.

As the world reflects on menstrual health this year, HOBET’s intervention serves as a reminder that periods don’t pause for conflict, neither should support for girls.

HOBET’s Coordinator reiterated the organization’s vision: “Even in crisis, girls bleed. Their health, dignity, and rights must be protected.”

This Community Outreach is made possible through support from the Global Fund for Women, whose mission aligns with HOBET’s—to advance the reproductive health and rights of AGYW across Africa and beyond.

As Cameroon continues to grapple with conflict and social upheaval, HOBET's unwavering efforts are a beacon of hope, pushing for a future where every girl can manage her menstruation safely and with dignity.

Since its founding in 2019, HOBET has impacted over 800 girls across Mbengwi, Buea, Idenau, CDC Camp Tiko, and Misselele, combining education, counseling, peer-to-peer support, and community peacebuilding to tackle structural barriers and social injustice.

BY NYONGAMSEN NDASI

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Coordinator of HOBET, Ms Tembeng Eli-Anne Anwi speaking during the event

Coordinator of HOBET, Ms Tembeng Eli-Anne Anwi Symbolically handing bucket to one of the beneficiaries

Cross section of beneficiaries after the event

Cross section of items donated

Cross section of participants during the event