Menu
Toronto, August 15, 2024 – Good Neighbours Canada, a core alliance of the Good Neighbors Global Partnership, has established a new partnership with Global Affairs Canada to advance menstrual health and higyene in Cameroon. The project focuses on menstrual health and hygiene education, information and infrastructure, ultimately contributing to advancing gender equality in Méhé, Cameroon.
Moreover, water access is problematic: 87.7% of menstruating women report insufficient water during their periods due to inadequate infrastructure. Six communities in Méhé lack boreholes, and seven have no wells or water sources. Most households use open pit toilets, and privacy is a major concern for menstruating individuals, with 61.7% finding it difficult to secure private space and 14.3% experiencing occasional difficulties.
The project directly addresses these issues with three key strategies. First, it enhances menstrual health and hygiene education by providing trainings for women’s and girls’ clubs, community health workers, and teachers in menstrual hygiene management. These trained people are equipped to disseminate accurate information throughout the community.
Second, the project establishes a co-creation process for locally-made menstrual products, supporting local leaders throughout the entrepreneurial process of creating, producing, and selling menstrual pads within their community. This approach addresses existing supply shortages and financial barriers, and creates income-generating opportunities for women-led cooperatives.
Finally, the project supports the construction of boreholes and toilets, while promoting female leadership in WASH Management Committees, aiming for at least 50% female representation to improve gender equality and resource management.
Funded by Global Affairs Canada, a department of the Government of Canada that leads the country’s international development and humanitarian assistance efforts, this project aligns with their commitment to improving the health and rights of women and girls around the world. It was selected for its potential to enhance the economic empowerment and inclusivity of women and girls, offering a sustainable solution to gender equality challenges.
This initiative is part of Good Neighbours Canada’s ongoing commitment to improving the lives of girls. Through this project, Good Neighbours Canada seeks to make sustainable change for women and girls in Cameroon’s Far North region. The public is also invited to support the project through donations to the “Better Life for Girls” program.
You will be redirected to Good Neighbours Canadas’ donation page.
Good Neighbours Canada was founded in 2017 in London, Ontario, with the mission to raise awareness and funds for partner countries. Our primary objective is to work closely with communities, fostering collaboration and understanding to empower people and transform lives. We implement projects that support education, health, water and sanitation, income generation, and emergency relief campaigns. Recognizing that women and girls are disproportionately affected by crises, we emphasize gender equality and the empowerment of marginalized groups.
From the beginning, we have strived to strengthen our connections with nonprofit partners and donors and enhance our ability to support both international partners and marginalized people within Canada. Notably, we assisted over 100 Ukrainian refugees affected by the war in safely relocating to Canada.
Currently, Good Neighbours Canada is positively impacting communities through our Better Life for Girls, Child Sponsorship, Clean Water, and Social Enterprise projects. We aim to create a world free of poverty, discrimination, and harm, continuously engaging and supporting local communities to foster sustainable development and social cohesion. We collaborate with Global Affairs Canada, the City of Toronto, Employment and Social Development Canada, and other funding partners.
For further information, please contact:
