Menstruation is not a shame. Knowledge is power. Hygiene is freedom. When girls understand their bodies, they take control of their futures. It’s time to break the silence. It’s time to dismantle the stigma.
In Cambodia, many adolescent girls face a deeply rooted and silent barrier to education: menstrual stigma and a lack of access to proper hygiene education. Many girls begin menstruating without understanding what is happening to their bodies, often feeling shame, confusion or fear.
In rural areas, these challenges are amplified by limited access to clean water, hygienic latrines, or sanitary pads. As a result, girls are at risk of missing school during their periods — sometimes dropping out altogether. This issue doesn’t only affect health; it disrupts learning and undermines girls’ confidence during an important stage of development.
But menstruation should never derail a girl’s education. It’s not a weakness. It’s not a secret. It’s not a shame. It’s a natural sign of womanhood — and it deserves respect.
Co-Action: Schools Leading Change
Under the CO-SAVED project, co-funded by the EU, Action Education / Aide et Action supports schools across Cambodia to deliver inclusive, impactful health education.
At present, the sessions in Kep focus on puberty, hygiene, and menstruation — including at Hun Sen Kampong Tralach, Hun Sen Kaev Krasang, Hun Sen Kep, Namiko Phnom Sor Sear, Hun Sen Damnak Chang Our, and O’ Krasar schools.
These health sessions are aiming to do more than just inform — they aim to empower.
District education officers, teachers, and schoolchildren are helping to normalise conversations about menstruation in classrooms. Girls are learning how to use sanitary pads, how to care for their bodies, and why hygiene is central to health.
Importantly, boys and men are included in some of these discussions to help dismantle the stigma — because gender equality cannot be achieved without collective understanding and support.
In addition, we provide support to schools across Cambodia to improve sanitation facilities by increasing access to clean water, providing handwashing stations, and private, safe latrines — essential components for girls to manage their periods with dignity.
Co-Impact: Empowered Girls, Stronger Classrooms
By providing accurate information and supportive environments, schools are helping girls view menstruation not as a burden, but as a natural part of who they are — something to be managed, not something to be ashamed of.
Menstrual hygiene education is empowering girls.
Our work is not just about hygiene. It’s about equality, dignity, and opportunity. It is about saying, boldly and without apology, that girls belong in school — every day of the month. When girls can manage their periods safely and with dignity, they are less likely to fall behind — and more likely to complete their education.
By breaking the silence, Kep’s schools are raising a generation of strong, educated, and self-assured young women — girls who are healthier, more resilient, and ready to shape their futures on their own terms.
Because when girls rise, everyone rises.
*Photos provided by schools and the District Office of Education in Kep.
