A Letter from Regina Mpatianny, Chair of the Esidai Women’s Group
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A personal testimonial about her triumph over this devastating stigma. She is a true inspiration:
My name is Regina Mpatianny. I am the chairlady of the Esidai Naisula Women’s group supported by AKTF. We design and make washable pads and underwear to keep our girls in school, reduce absenteeism and drop-put rates and help them bleed with pride. For the past six years, it has been an interesting journey which I never dreamed of or ever imagined seeing it happen in my lifetime as a Maasai Woman..
Now, I have opportunities to meet many young girls in schools and mothers in our community and speak about a subject that for many years I too considered a taboo. I did not speak with my daughters when they yearned for my advice and guidance, just as no one had spoken to me many years ago. We bled in fear, shame, disgust and discomfort.
With the other women in the group, when we hear the girls in schools share their experiences during menstrual health and hygiene workshops conducted by the Anne K Taylor Fund, it inspires us and gives us confidence that one day our women and girls will stop seeing ourselves under a shadow of cultural complexity and see ourselves as leaders – leaders who are dreamers; leaders who are seers; leaders who are builders; leaders who are doers. Our daughters/girls are no longer ashamed to talk about menstruation.
Through the menstrual health and hygiene program, we want to support our girls and boys to be the best they can be without shame.
–Regina Mpatianny, 2024
