Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Workshop Module for School Teachers - Radhika Joshi MHM Workshop Module for School Teachers (This is a representation of the actual MHM module) Source: https://www.unicef.org/rosa/stories/period - lesson - plan - guide - menstruation - teachers TARGET AUDIENCE: School teachers in urban India PURPOSE: To train school teachers to conduct gender - inclusive MHM workshops for school students MAIN FEATURES OF THE WORKSHOP MODULE The essence of a gender inclusive workshop Ensuring that school students from all genders are made a part of this workshop and sensitized about menstruation Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ludhiana/menstrual - hygiene - day - ludhiana - village - school - special - period - 5753594 / Conducting the workshop at the right time! The workshops should be conducted for students from 5 th standard onwards, since that is the time around when girls start menstruating Starting out a conversation about periods The teacher trainer can start out a conversation in a friendly tone by telling students that we are all growing up Through this she can encourage students to share responses on how they are growing up, what changes they are observing within their bodies and link it to the concept of puberty She can then follow it up with the introduction to periods Using Art Through the medium of art, help students visualize what comes to their mind when they think about or hear the word “periods” Then ask them to draw it out on a paper and share their thoughts Ice - breaking After doing the art activity, the teacher trainer should encourage students to share their responses The teacher trainer should then link the responses to the topic of menstruation and build up a conversation around it TOOLS TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT PERIODS Using games Using the medium of games to help reduce the stigma associated with periods In this image is presented a game of bowling, through which students will share some common myths associated with periods and then through the game, help get the correct information associated with them Using games Games are engaging and fun – students, both girls and boys will enjoy activity - based learning The decibels significantly go up, laughter slipping through the cracks of silence A strong visual aid helps take down mental barriers and reinforce the idea of “breaking” stigma Web of myths! As an activity to encourage the debunking of myths associated with periods, the teacher trainers will encourage the students to list down and add the myths and stereotypes they’ve heard everyday through family and friends Menstrupedia Comic Engaging a conversation among the students about menstruation through storytelling and using a comic like Menstrupedia MHM Apron One of the tools for conducting the workshop is an MHM Apron, which the teacher trainer can wear like a kitchen apron and help explain the anatomy of human reproductive organs through this This tool will especially useful in classrooms where there is no audio - visual facility Keeping a track of periods While sensitizing students about MHM, it is also crucial to share ways in which girls can track their periods and share the importance of this activity MHM Bracelets Engaging students in an activity, such as making MHM bracelets, to hel p girls keep a track of their periods Figure of human reproductive organs Using such silicone/ plastic figures of human reproductive organs, such as the vagina (as depicted in the image), to explain how the process of menstruation occurs MHM wheel (Close - up) Helping students understand the whole monthly menstrual cycle through this tool MHM wheel Use of tools such as the MHM wheel to denote the various changes that take place in a menstruator’s body during whole month Awareness about menstrual - related disorders Along with hormonal changes, lifestyle or genetic issues may lead to menstrual disorders in young girls and women The teacher - trainer should sensitize the girls about menstrual - related disorders such as Polycystic Ovarian Disorder (PCOD) and help them understand the symptoms, along with encouraging them to seek help from a gynecologist when required