By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Youths have been awarded for their outstanding designs of an Innovative Menstrual Hygiene Kit Packaging tailored for adolescents and young girls.
The awards ceremony took place on May 21 in Yaoundé, hosted by Local Youth Corner Cameroon (LOYOC) in partnership with the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency (UNFPA).
The event focused on menstrual hygiene and youth innovation, celebrating the winners of a national contest aimed at enhancing menstrual hygiene management for young people. Out of eight highly competitive nominees, three winners were recognized for their exceptional contributions.
The top prize went to “Men Safe,” designed by Estelle Njuelle Ngah and her team, while “My Period, My Pride,” created by Elenore Ngew and her collaborators, secured second place. The third position was awarded to Nancy Aboudou and her team for their design, “Daily Flow Kit.”
The winning designs were evaluated based on several criteria, including the use of local materials and overall accessibility. “Men Safe” is crafted from raphia, a local resource, whereas “My Period, My Pride” is a comprehensive menstrual hygiene kit. “Daily Flow Kit” is made from durable, locally sourced materials, showcasing the creativity and resourcefulness of the participants.
Shortly after winning first place, Estelle Njuelle Ngah expressed her gratitude, saying, “I chose to use raphia because it is a local material that is easily found in markets.” She went on to explain that her motivation for the project stemmed from her own experiences in secondary school, where she faced stigma surrounding menstruation.
“Understanding the challenges that women and young girls face inspired me to create this kit. As a young girl, it was difficult to handle my period, and imagining what children in rural communities and cities endure made it essential to design this kit,” she added.
Christian Acheleke Leke, Executive Director of LOYOC, praised UNFPA for supporting such initiatives, stating that these innovations are remarkable and provide young people with opportunities to showcase their talents.
“Today is not only about celebrating the best but also about appreciating the young innovators who have made significant contributions to this sector. This event is a celebration of youth and innovation,” he remarked.
Lydie Mangele, a representative from UNFPA, commended the designs presented by the youths, highlighting that innovation and youth engagement are central to UNFPA’s mission. “The youth are at the heart of UNFPA’s mandate, and we work for and with young people,” she stated.
Following their recognition, the three winners will collaborate closely with LOYOC and UNFPA to refine their designs further. Each menstrual hygiene kit packaging will undergo a technical review to ensure practicality, scalability, and alignment with the needs of adolescent girls and young women.
The call for design submissions was launched in March, attracting over 30 applications from across the country. In the initial phase, 25 designs were shortlisted, leading to a rigorous selection process that ultimately identified the final three finalists.
The competition not only aimed to award the best design for menstrual hygiene kit packaging but also sought to improve the accessibility and discretion of menstrual hygiene products. It promoted sustainable and eco-friendly solutions while encouraging youth participation in social innovation.