By Rianat Wahab
“Leaving no one behind, we intend to intensify our campaign towards educating girls in rural areas and ending period poverty.” Taiwo Mary
Taiwo Mary Bukola is the Executive Director of BUTA initiative, an initiative aimed at educating people about safe menstrual hygiene practices and ending period poverty. Bukola is an award winning Model United Nations enthusiast who has served as board member and chairperson to several Model United Nations Conferences both in Nigeria and abroad. She is a passionate member of Plogging Nigeria.
HOW ARE YOU LOCALIZING THE SDGS IN NIGERIA?
BUTA initiative visits rural communities to enlighten girls and women on the benefits of safe menstrual practice as the menstrual hygiene of girls is a very important aspect of our lives. While educating them we provide menstrual kits to enable them practice what we preach.
PLEASE TELL US MORE THE MAIN PROJECT YOU ARE WORKING ON
Currently we’re working on PROJECT 1000, this project aims at reaching out to 1000 girls in different rural communities by the end of 2021. We are also looking into production of organic reusable pads because day by day the cost of pads keeps increasing and it’s becoming a luxury product for people in rural communities.
PLEASE SHARE SOME OF THE IMPACT STORIES
Our outreach last year exposed us to different experiences of girls towards menstrual hygiene. One of the girls expressed that asides from the first time she started her period and had full access to pads most of the time she resorts to the usage of clothes and any available material. Some women also said that growing up they learnt to substitute between clothes, cotton wool, tissue paper and the likes.
At the end of that outreach it brought joy to us that we were able to educate them of the importance of menstrual hygiene, how they can save towards their period and we provided pads that can last them for over two months per person. We gave out over 100 pads.
HOW IS THE PROJECT ENSURING THAT NIGERIA ACHIEVES THE SDGS BY 2030?
We’re invested in the sustainable development goal 5 (gender quality), which includes targets like ending period poverty, ending violence against women, ensuring access to universal reproductive right and health and the likes. Leaving no one behind we intend to intensify our campaign towards educating girls in rural areas and ending period poverty .
We’re also open to partnership with organizations and groups to further the course of the SDG.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OR CONSTRAINTS AFFECTING THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT AND WHAT ARE THE SUPPORT YOU NEED?
Funding is a major constraint for projects and outreaches. One would think that since pads are essential goods they would be affordable (chuckle) the price is increasing on a daily basis and other substitutes like tampons and cups aren’t cheap either. To extend out tentacles and reach more girls, we need sponsorships and partnerships for the goal.
YOUR ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE
Moving through life, I can’t promise that the road will be smooth, don’t despair, try as much as possible to learn from challenges and bring the best out of every situation.
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