By Yumna Bodiat
Edited by Imaan Moosa
We spoke to menstruation activist Candice Chirwa on tackling the stigma around menstruation through her master's dissertation, NGO QRATE, TedX talk on 'Bad Blood' and brand ambassadorship with Lil-Lets.
Academic, menstruation activist, author, professional speaker and social entrepreneur are a few of many titles awarded to the exceptionally self-proclaimed Minister of Menstruation.
Twenty-four-year-old Candice Chirwa held a firm interest in gender studies throughout her university experience at the University of the Witwatersrand.
However, the golden opportunity to consult at the United Nations Populations Fund South Africa (UNFPA) truly sparked her curiosity into researching menstrual health across the African continent.
Candice notes her master's research titled 'Menstrual Health Matters: States obligations under International Human Rights conventions' was written not only for herself, but for the many menstruators who need their experiences validated.
While her research paper was particularly challenging in terms of receiving approval from male peers in the international relations department, this motivated her to fight for a space of awareness on real and relevant topics.
Candice says having her topic approved and completing her paper means that students following in her steps can write and research about taboo topics and integrate them in academia.
"I think the most interesting thing in my research was finding countries that have been viewed negatively in media to be very progressive when it comes to enacting policies for menstrual health. At the beginning of my research, I really assumed that it would be progressive democratic countries that would have policies around menstruation, but turns out the case studies I analysed proved me wrong."
A country like Zimbabwe has the most progressive policies surrounding menstruation in the whole continent, and it really has put pressure on other African countries to follow suit.
Pictured: Candice at her master's graduation. Photo: @candice_chirwa
Candice came across a lot of data in her research that reflected the many difficulties young girls encounter when experiencing their first period. This inspired her to develop a series of menstruation workshops through her NGO, Qrate.
"Qrate is a non-governmental organization focused on enhancing the critical-thinking skills essential for young people, through the promotion of 'Eduliftment' - a tool to help young people apply critical-thinking skills in order to understand their circumstances and explore options open to them through educational content.
"Qrate focuses on ensuring that young people are equipped with a platform that provides knowledge to help shape their understanding of their society and allow them to engage about the issues affecting them. This may help them to navigate and make a meaningful impact within their communities."
The NGO is dedicated to creating informative content through service, education and advocacy work on a wide range of socially diverse topics, such as menstruation.
Photo: @candice_chirwa
Candice used her experience teaching dramatic arts and her knowledge on menstruation to develop unique and youth-friendly workshops that allow for active participation in hopes of breaking stigmas around periods and promoting education about menstrual health.
Pictured: Behind the scenes of Qrate's menstruation workshops. Photos: @qrate_ngo
With the assistance of Qrate's facilitators, these menstrual workshops run a series of practical activities that allow young girls to feel safe. They are able to leave with a stronger sense of self and understanding of their bodies' menstrual cycle.
Pictured: Qrate facilitators after a workshop on International Day of the Girl Child, 2019. Photo: @candice_chirwa
After each menstrual workshop, participants are given a goodie bag inclusive of pantyliners, pads and/or tampons. Extra sanitary products are given to the school to reserve.
"There has been a pivotal shift in the way society has engaged with the topic of menstrual health in the recent year. However, much more needs to be done to debunk the taboo that still exists in our communities.
"The Qrate workshops have definitely brought a cohesion of educating and uplifting the participants in a fun and dynamic way to learn about periods. Through our workshops, we have educated the next generation about menstrual health in a safe, interactive and fun environment," Candice told To EmpowHER.
Candice hopes to expand the menstrual workshops on a national level while diversifying Qrate's outreach with topics such as masculinity, climate change, and feminism workshops for young people.
Pictured: Candice with Qrate's youth achievement award for Best Youth NGO 2019. Photo: @candice_chirwa
In February 2020, Candice graced the TedX staged with her talk on 'Bad Blood' and silenced the room with the word 'vagina'.
It really was such an amazing experience to be on stage and talk about something that I deeply passionate about. I spent at least three months preparing, rehearsing and memorising my speech, but the most important thing that I will always cherish is the group of speakers and team I got to meet.
Pictured: Candice at the TedX Waterfall Drive for her talk on 'Bad Blood'. Photos: @candice_chirwa
Candice told To EmpowHER it was important to encourage each audience member to engage and reflect on the conversations needed to normalise and demystify the taboo associated with periods.
She hopes to continue to promote this dialogue through her new brand ambassadorship with Lil-lets.
The Lil-Lets Brand Ambassadorship is such an exciting project. I really think it pivots the responsibility that companies have in dealing with periods, not only by providing access but by normalising them.
Being a Lil-Lets Brand Ambassador is a big achievement for Candice and the many menstruators who will have the opportunity to interact online with Lil-Lets new community platform called 'Lil-Lets Talk (LLT)'. LLT is a platform where menstruators will have the chance to share period experiences and empower each other to be period proud.
Pictured: Candice as a Lil-Let's brand ambassador. Photo: @lilletssa
When it comes to challenges on menstruation in South Africa, Candice believes that access to sanitary products is a leading issue. She told To EmpowHER, "By having menstruators have access to these sanitary products it does not solve the problem of access to clean and safe sanitation."
Menstruators also have the issue of not receiving comprehensive sexual education that informs and empowers them about their bodies. Most importantly menstruators have to deal with the period stigma every month that excludes them from social and economic activities.
While Candice applauds the Minister of Finance for removing the luxury tax on sanitary products in 2018, the purchase of sanitary products remains a financial challenge to poor and impoverished households.
For many, getting a period comes with additional expenses, days off school and risking regular infections by using unsanitary materials to manage menses. By making sanitary products accessible and free, many of these challenges may be alleviated.
As a menstruation activist, Candice would like to "live in a world where periods can openly be spoken about without any allusions to euphemism or crass period jokes. I want to live in a world where young girls and boys feel confident and empowered to talk about their periods!"
Illustrations of Candice as self-proclaimed 'Minister of Menstruation'. Illustrations by: @hey__ellen
As I grew to love my body more in university, I strived to learn more about my periods and by seeing it in an empowering light. Every time I menstruate I always say this affirmation to myself everyday: 'Candice, you bleed every month and you do not die, you must be magic.' Falling in love with periods has taken my self-care to another level.
Support and follow Candice's inspiring journey through her socials:
Instagram: @candice_chirwa
Twitter: @Candice_Chirwa
QRATE Instagram: @qrate_za
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