The persistent social stigma surrounding female personal hygiene and menstruation remains a critical global concern in the 21st century. To confront these challenges, the world observes the International Day of Action for Women’s Health and Menstrual Hygiene every May 28th.

Marking this year’s celebration, the Women’s Smiles Association (l’association Sourires des femmes) officially launched the maiden Cameroonian edition of the “My Free Period” festival (Festival mes menstrues libres) in Yaounde on May 29, 2026.

This impactful initiative, originally created in 2023 by feminist activists Amandine Yao and Salematou Balde, has already established roots in Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Guinea as a powerful platform for breaking systemic taboos across Africa.

​Hosted at the French Institute of Cameroon – IFC, the opening ceremony drew a passionate crowd of civil society organizations, women, and young girls eager to learn. The festival’s core objectives are to empower and educate participants on menstrual hygiene, the menstrual cycle, and overall female anatomy.

Furthermore, the event shines a vital spotlight on chronic, often overlooked reproductive health conditions and disorders. By bringing these discussions into the open, the organizers aim to dismantle the deep-rooted cultural taboos that continue to shroud menstruation, sexual health, and reproductive rights in secrecy.

​A central theme of the festival is shifting the cultural narrative from mere hygiene to true dignity. During the opening address, Eyono Ndong Winnie, the Executive Coordinator of the Women’s Smiles Association, emphasized that menstrual dignity is an inclusive fight that concerns all women and girls, preventing them from being unfairly disqualified in society.

She boldly reminded the audience that this issue does not solely rest on the shoulders of women; rather, it demands the active involvement of men and society as a whole to create a truly supportive environment.

​The comprehensive two-day agenda features an engaging mix of panel discussions, practical workshops, and educational games revolving around menstrual health. Attendees are exploring public policies regarding menstrual dignity in Cameroon, discussing the journey from diagnosis to treatment for menstrual disorders, and gaining hands-on skills in manufacturing menstrual products.

Additionally, a bustling exhibition hall allows prominent partners and civil society groups—including CAMNAFAW, Yoheda, Proximity Doctors, Wake-up ladies, Rabaawah, and GIZ—to showcase their services and distribute essential protective kits, ranging from disposable and reusable pads to condoms and tracking calendars.

​Advocating for greater male involvement, Ngai Senge Odette Priscil, a student at the University of Yaoundé-1 and a dedicated volunteer, highlighted the critical need to bring these private struggles into the public sphere. She noted that traditional perceptions of menstruation as a strictly private matter often blind families to the severe challenges young girls face.

When periods are kept hidden, society fails to recognize that extreme menstrual pain is frequently a symptom of underlying medical conditions rather than a normal rite of passage.

​Priscil stressed that inviting fathers to these public forums is essential for fostering family empathy and medical awareness. By educating fathers and male figures about chronic conditions like endometriosis and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – PCOS, they can better understand when a young girl’s pain requires urgent hospital care instead of dismissal.

Ultimately, as the festival draws to a close, organizers and volunteers alike hope that a broader, shared societal understanding of the menstrual cycle will significantly erode the stigma and restore dignity to women and girls across the nation.

Prior to the official launch in Yaounde, a field trip was made to Akonolinga where the association met with the young girls and Women of the locality. A workshop on manufacturing reusable sanitary pads and menstrual tracking bracelets alongside an interactive game on the female reproductive system with a panel discussion on menstrual health.

About “Sourires des femmes “

​Sourires de Femmes (Women’s Smiles) is a feminist association registered in Cameroon since 2018, with its headquarters based in Yaounde and a branch office located in Akonolinga.

​Strongly committed to the issue of gender-based violence, the association works daily to combat this violence, participates in raising awareness and providing information on sexual and reproductive health education, and promotes the empowerment and leadership of women and girls through community outreach activities.

​Alongside operational and institutional partners, the Sourires de Femmes association carries out daily feminist advocacy in favor of legal advancements for women’s rights in Cameroon.

​Resolvingly activist, the association is also a member of REJEFEMAC (Réseau des Jeunes Féministes d’Afrique Centrale / Central African Network of Young Feminists) and works in close collaboration with the network’s partner organizations.