Story 6 | Simulizi 6

When I first got my period, I informed my mother. I was 13 and she didn't explain much, but I had already studied the concept in Health class at school. Even then, I wasn't ready for those cramps! XD I was 11 when I first found out about sex, but it was too late by the time my …

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Story 5 | Simulizi 5

When my period arrived I told no-one. I didn't want to tell my mum, for I felt like I had done something bad or now I was going to be looked at differently. I have an older sister so I first borrowed some of her pads and then went to buy some myself. My mom …

Story 4 | Simulizi 4

I was 5 or 6 years old when I first found out about sex. When my period arrived, I told my aunt; I was in Cote D'Ivoire at the time. I don't remember what she said, but I already knew about periods. I was about 14 when the subject of sex was first broached. My dad brought …

Story 3 | Simulizi 3

I was 10 when I first found out about sex, but it was when I first got my period that my parents talked to me about it. When it happened, I told my mom; she gave me a pad and told me, "Be careful! You can now get pregnant!" She merely told me that having a …

Why? (Part 2) | Kwa nini tuyazungumzie haya? (Sehemu ya 2)

As I mentioned in my welcome post, this blog was partly inspired by one of my patients; as promised yesterday, I’m going to tell you about the encounter. I met a young East African woman in her twenties, whom I’ll call J, while interpreting for her at a reproductive health appointment sometime last year. The appointment …

Why? (Part 1) | Kwa nini tuyazungumzie haya? (Sehemu ya 1)

The necessity of this project cannot be summarised in one blog post, but I’m going to try and illustrate it with a concrete example instead. So much work has been/is being done in the area of reproductive health for youth across the African continent, that my small project may seem redundant to some. Tomorrow I will …

Story 2 | Simulizi 2

I was 5 when I first found out about sex. Growing up I didn’t know much about periods, only that they happened to women and weren't fun. It had to do with the reproductive system, blood, and the vagina. I understood that getting your period was a milestone marking a girl's transition into "womanhood". I also …

Story 1 | Simulizi 1

I honestly don't remember the age at which I first found out about sex. When I first got my period, I told my mother. She said that I was becoming a woman. I kind of already had an idea because I'd seen aunts and older cousins use sanitary products. There was no shame about nakedness, …

The Story Project | Mradi wa Simulizi

Have you ever wondered how people your age in other cultures were taught about puberty? Through conversation with friends from other African cultures over the years, and through my work as a medical interpreter*, I have realised that there are commonalities in our experiences of being taught about puberty/sexual health -- and in the dearth, too. …