No More Whispering About Menstruation Introducing Esther Dianah, As She Takes Puberty To The Streets

OMG! I started my period, and so did I. We can’t tell anyone, because if the teacher finds out this

could be our last day of school. It’s common for Kenya girls to get kicked out of school the minute they start their period. Many rural areas the girls don’t have access to feminine products and if they do they can’t afford them.

2007 is when it all started. I started my own business, All Grown Up Kit. A puberty program for girls that start their period for the first time. My goal was to get AGU into middle school in Colorado, then go nationally. I partnered with the Denver school, public but there was too much competition from bigger companies. I decided to take a trip to Kenya and learned that the girls there were forced to leave school and some were even married off once they started puberty.

In 2019 I finally found the face of All Grown Meet Esther Dianah, 19 years old, born in Kenya. Esther grew up in Kitale Town, Matisi in Trans-Nzoia County. Esther attended primary and secondary school in Kitale town. In 2017 she moved to Nairobi, to further her education, in journalism. Financially she wasn’t able to finish and started working with Sauti News Blog as a writer. I worked with Black Market Records as a publicist for a short period of time before becoming the Brand ambassador AGU, 2019. I am currently the brand ambassador and still seeks part-time jobs with media houses as a correspondent. As a young girl, I fell in love with books and reading became a place to escape. I love singing, writing, traveling and cooking a homemade meal.

What an amazing journey this summer, learning about menstruation in Kenya, on a 6-day walk from Nairobi to Nakuru. We participated in a 5k walk spreading the news about All Grown Up, with products and education for a girl’s first period. Educating the girls and women in Kenya about their bodies has become one of the nation’s number one priorities. There are a lot of areas in Kenya, where women and girls don’t have access to feminine products and if they do they can’t afford them. No more whispering about our period! It’s time to take it to the streets. This was the first annual walk with Kenny Ombima, better known by his stage name, The King Kaka and Rabbit, C.E.O Kaka Empire. He is a UNICEF Kenya advocate. He decided to hit the streets, walking for girls in Kenya to stay in school during puberty.

The Menstrual Walk covered 154kms from Nairobi to Nakuru, which Rallied to 199,580 Steps. With just $60.00 will keep a girl in school. We walked during the day and met with organizations, teachers, leaders and spoke to the girls along the way about their needs and giving out the product. The King Kaka, auctioned/sold the Steps each at .20 Kshs. If we manage to sell all 5200 steps 173 girls will not miss school for a year. https://www.instagram.com/p/B1dI3AClSeZ/?igshid=1r5wn6cvu9juc

 Many of the girls attend a boarding school and see their families during the holidays. They send their girls off to get a chance at a better life. Pads are very important for all schools in Kenya. Disposable pads are not easy for women and girls to get. The Cloth pads are less expensive and they could be used for up to 6 months with proper cleaning compared to disposable ones. Menstruation is the beginning of the second stage of life for a girl going into womanhood. It’s more than just having a period and wearing pads.

Girls go through mental, physical and emotional stages during puberty. This is a time when they are learning about their bodies and becoming the woman they were born to be. Your diet and exercise play a big role during that time of the month. Foods you should eat around or during your period are, ginger tea is good for cramping, leafy foods, steak, natural probiotic yogurts, and including dark chocolate. Most women have a favorite food, outfit, panties even a blanket for the times when we get chilly out of know where. Then there are foods you should avoid, like fried foods, dairy, refined grains and foods with high salt content. When it comes to your clothes, I think it’s a personal choice on what you wear. I will say “WHITE” would not be the color I would wear on a period day. Esther will hit 10 schools, 3 networking events and pitch All Grown Up to the local markets, Schools, and all-girl organizations from the public to private schools from uptown to downtown and most of all the rural areas of Kenya Naivasha. All Grown Up will be a great resource for girls all over Kenya. All Grown Up products will be sold at Sherris Primary Academy in December 2020 for purchasing. For more information go to All-Grownup.com