Reigning Miss Keetmanshoop Secondary School, Cayren Engelbrecht has launched a youth-led initiative called Project Bloom to break menstrual stigma in schools.

Crowned on 3rd July, Engelbrecht is turning her crown into purpose by using her platform to drive social change.

She emphasised that menstrual stigma remains a reality for many learners, and through the Project Bloom initiative, she hopes to shift the narrative by promoting menstrual health awareness and encouraging open conversations.

“We will have more schools involved with it, we will donate sanitary products with a purpose, we will educate the youth and make sure everyone understands the topic.”

This initiative seeks to improve learners' confidence and mental well-being while fostering dignity, respect and gender equality.

An awareness campaign at several schools will start early next month.

Learners who attended the event welcomed the initiative.

“A lot of girls do not have the confidence to carry menstrual pads to school. They are very scared that people will check their bags and find them there, and it is embarrassing for them. But I believe this project will help every learner bloom differently and wear their menstrual pads with confidence,” explained Roswitha Manyima, a learner from PK de Villiers.

"It's very important for a boy child to know about menstrual hygiene and menstrual health on girl because if you look at from a boy point of view, if we are not educated enough about menstrual hygiene and menstrual health because, if you look at it from a boy’s point of view, if we are not educated enough about menstruation and the effects it has on girls, how will we know how to act around them if we don’t understand the effects it has on them?” added Josh Sabwa from Keetmanshoop Secondary School.