Through this component, Talia seeks to increase access to information on reproductive health and rights; addressing hygiene, health and wellness needs for young women. Many girls are not attending school on the days they are menstruating due to lack of affordable protection materials. The girls fear stigmatization due to soiling themselves while in school. Further research also indicates that 90% of the urban poor women and girls do not use (off the shelf) sanitary towels because they are expensive but improvise with unhealthy materials such as banana fibers, grass, leaves, old newspapers, and pieces of cloth. According to UNICEF, one in every ten schoolgirls in Africa miss classes or drop out of school completely as a result of this. Girls who cannot afford sanitary towels miss approximately five days of school a month, which amounts to sixty missed school days a year. There are many aspects that link girls’ attendance to their menstrual cycles. The lack of affordable sanitary products for girls and women keeps them at a disadvantage in terms of education when they are young and prevents their mobility and productivity as women. Without sanitary products, girls are excluded from their right to an education.

Every girl in Zimbabwe deserves access to safe and hygienic sanitary products. Our goal is to help girls reclaim their dignity that poverty denies them and enable girls to build successful futures for themselves and their communities.

Through our intervention, girls participate in workshops on Personal Care, Hygiene and Grooming. The most important aspect of maintaining good health is good personal hygiene and personal hygiene helps prevent the spread of germs. The girls will be able to understand the importance of personal hygiene and good grooming; identify necessary personal hygiene habits; identify good grooming habits; and present a positive and self-confidant image. Talia distributes personal care kits to the girls after the training, which, include sanitary towels, face towels, anti-perspirant deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs and Vaseline.

Talia seeks to restore dignity to the girl child. Girls are able to complete high school; be less likely to get HIV/AIDS or fall pregnant in their teens; earn higher wages and successfully educate their own children.

The girls who participate in the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights program are also be empowered through education on productive living. Sustainability is attained through establishment of income-generating projects to boost their income generating capacity. Further training on sexual and reproductive rights is offered. It is envisaged that through this program, young women are empowered to enhance their dreams and contribute to the economic development of their communities.

Talia Women’s Network conducts health and wellness outreaches in the communities. The harsh economic environment and the declining standards at public health facilities have left many people unable to afford healthcare and many unnecessary deaths due to many curable ailments which are unattended. The outreaches seek to assist women and girls overcome poverty-related barriers to healthcare. Medical professionals address the audience on health and wellness issues, raising awareness on healthy living for disease prevention including breast and cervical cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, asthma and HIV/AIDS.

The objective for the outreach events is to showcase the importance of healthy living for women. Talia seeks to expand its focus and reach to women in the high-density suburbs and rural communities, to embrace health and wellbeing through these outreach events. The “Health & Wellness” Days are a platform for advancing health, wellness, nutrition and all related components for women to shape and influence their choices, practices as well as lifestyles. The themes and topics for the day will include:

• Legal Issues – Wills & Inheritance
• Gender-based
• Violence & Sexual Abuse
• Health Matters – Cancer, Non Communicable Diseases
• Mental Health & Wellness
• Nutrition & Healthy Lifestyles
• Enterprise Development & Financial Literacy
• Resilience to Carry on During Difficult TimeThe themes and topics are addressed through the following planned activities:
• Speaker Forum – on each of the identified themes
  Nutritional and Traditional Food Exhibitions
  Medical Consultation Station – general consultation, diabetes testing, blood pressure testing and BMI assessments
  Beauty, Personal Care and Hygiene Exhibition – free beauty treatments (pampering) and product display, distribution of hygiene packs with reusable sanitary towels
  Free breast and cervical cancer screening and HIV testing