GRIP Greener Planet and Inclusive Periods

Happy International Youth Day! 🌍✊🏿

​Young people aren't just the leaders of tomorrow—we are driving the change right here, right now. Through Project GRIP, young changemakers in Zimbabwe are tackling the intersecting crises of menstrual poverty, disability stigma, and climate change head-on. 🌸♿️🌿

​By ensuring that girls with disabilities have access to inclusive menstrual health education, sustainable kits, and climate resilience information, we are building a more just and equitable world for our beneficiaries and beyond.

​A massive thank you to our supporters—including the European Union and Global Youth Mobilization through the Youth Empowerment Fund—for believing in youth-led action!

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At the GRIP Project, we believe that empowerment starts with knowledge, dignity, and sustainability. We recently brought our Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) awareness session to the bright young girls aged 9–12 and their teachers at Kent Primary School! 🏫👧🏾

​Navigating puberty can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance, every girl can go from feeling shy to feeling smart and confident.
​Here is what we covered during our hands-on session:
​💡 Demystifying Menstruation: Breaking down the biology of menstruation in an age-appropriate way, busting common myths, and affirming that periods are a normal, healthy part of growing up.
​🧼 Hygiene & Body Care: Practical guidance on maintaining proper hygiene during menstruation, managing cramps, and changing period products safely.
​🌿 Sustainable Choices for Climate Action: Introducing reusable options—including reusable pads and menstrual cups—and demonstrating how these choices reduce plastic waste while keeping period management dignified and accessible.

​A huge thank you to the teachers and students at Kent Primary School for opening up the space for honest, shame-free conversations. Together, we are building a world where period dignity and environmental care go hand in hand! 💚

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Happy World Environment Day! 🌍✨

At the G.R.I.P Project, we believe that a healthier planet leads to healthier communities. Our fight for environmental sustainability goes hand-in-hand with our mission for menstrual justice—because protecting our ecosystems, reducing plastic waste, and securing clean water is essential for safe, dignified, and inclusive hygiene for every girl.

Today, let's commit to making small, eco-friendly choices that shield our Earth and empower future generations. A greener planet is a more inclusive planet! 🌿♻️

Breaking Barriers & Dispelling Myths: Bringing Inclusive MHM to Kadoma! 🌍❤️

The GRIP Project recently took our menstrual hygiene management (MHM) initiative to a group of girls who are often overlooked yet doubly affected by period poverty and a lack of information: girls and teenagers living with visual impairments in Kadoma.

Going into this detailed session, our goal was to practically share different options for menstrual products—particularly focusing on reusable pads and menstrual cups—so these young women could physically interact with and understand sustainable alternatives.
What we found was a deeply ingrained web of myths and fears. Many of the girls held misconceptions about different products, such as believing tampons are highly invasive, uncomfortable, will cause physical harm, or will "remove their virginity." Others couldn't conceive how such a small product could successfully manage blood flow.

Beyond the products, we had to dismantle a heavy emotional burden: the pervasive notion of being "unclean" during menstruation. This damaging myth leads to girls being othered, isolated, and excluded when they attend church, socialise, or simply try to exist at home.
Dispelling these myths and addressing their specific needs was an incredibly powerful experience. It reinforced a vital truth: menstrual hygiene is still a critical human rights issue for girls and young women.

We need to have more of these open discussions. We must debunk the myths surrounding menstruation and period products so that every girl is empowered with information, true access, and the autonomy to choose the method that works best for her body and her lifestyle.
Dignity is a right, not a privilege—and it belongs to every body, everywhere. ♿✨

Plan International WASH United

Happy Menstrual Hygiene Day! 🩸🌍 Today, the world declares: Period proud, climate-conscious, and fully inclusive! At the GRIP Project, our mission is clear: Greener Planets and Inclusive Periods. We dream of a Zimbabwe where every girl—regardless of her physical ability—can manage her cycle safely, sustainably, and with absolute pride. Let's dismantle period poverty, combat climate anxiety, and ensure inclusive infrastructure in every school and workplace.
​Together, we can make period shame history and environmental care our present. Share this post to stand for a green, inclusive future! ✊✨

Happy Africa Day! 🇿🇼🌍 Today, we celebrate our resilience and our innovations. Nevertheless, as we look toward a prosperous Africa, we must address how climate change impacts our girls. Deforestation and droughts shouldn't dictate a young girl's education or dignity.

The GRIP Project is proud to lead community-driven, climate-smart solutions—promoting sustainable, plastic-free period choices that protect our beautiful African soil while keeping girls in school. 🌿❤️

Imagine trying to manage your period when the nearest accessible toilet is miles away, or the water tap is too high to reach. ♿💧 Climate-induced water shortages hit girls with disabilities first and hardest. This MHM Month, we are advocating for Inclusive Periods. That means school and community toilets designed with ramps, wide doors, and accessible hygiene facilities. Disability rights are menstrual rights! ✊❤️
Plan International

May is Menstrual Hygiene Month, but at the GRIP Project, we are looking at the bigger picture! 🌍🩸 True menstrual hygiene isn't just about handing out a pad—it’s about clean water, inclusive spaces, and a healthy planet. Over the next 10 days, join us as we explore how climate change, disability rights, and environmental sustainability intersect with period dignity. No girl should be left behind because of her body or the weather. Are you ready to flow with dignity? Let’s talk in the comments! 👇

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at the GRIP Project, we are breaking the silence and lifting the stigma. 🧠💚
Mental health is an inseparable part of our overall well-being, yet it remains one of the most overlooked aspects of healthcare. For many girls and women—especially those navigating the intersecting realities of disability, climate anxiety, and period poverty—the psychological toll can be immense.
Managing a period without proper water, sanitation, or accessible facilities isn't just a physical challenge; it is a source of severe mental distress, anxiety, and isolation. True climate and menstrual justice mean fighting for environments that support both physical dignity and peace of mind.
Why Mental Health Awareness Matters:

Early Recognition: Understanding the signs of mental distress leads to timely intervention, improving outcomes, and preventing further distress.
Breaking the Stigma:Talking openly about our struggles encourages others to seek help without shame or fear of judgment.
Holistic Support: We must build communities where mental well-being is prioritized alongside physical health, ensuring that girls with disabilities have the emotional and structural support systems they deserve. ♿✨
Your mental health is important. Let’s raise awareness, support one another, and build a softer, more inclusive world where no one has to carry their burdens alone. 🫂🌍

Remember: It is okay not to be okay, and it is a sign of strength to reach out. How are you practicing self-care and protecting your peace this month? 👇

This International Workers' Day, the GRIP Project celebrates the strength, resilience, and power of every laborer building our future! ✊🏿🌍

Labor rights are human rights, and that includes the right to a dignified work environment. For women and girls in the workforce—especially those with disabilities—achieving "work with pride" means having access to inclusive facilities and sustainable Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM).

Why MHM Matters in the Workplace? :

Dignity at Work: No worker should have to compromise their health or comfort due to a lack of accessible sanitation or period products.
Inclusive Productivity: When we design workplaces that accommodate girls and women with disabilities, we create a more equitable and productive economy.
Climate-Smart Jobs: As we move toward a greener planet, we advocate for "green jobs" that prioritize environmental sustainability alongside worker well-being. 🌿♻️

Today, we honor the hands that keep our communities running. Let’s continue to push for fair wages, safe conditions, and inclusive environments where every body is respected.

Happy Workers' Day!🇿🇼✨