Menarche

My name is Laurinda Juma, a Mozambican Sexual and Reproductive Health activist since 2018, since then I've worked as a volunteer in NGOs that advocate for sexual and reproductive rights, children's rights, gender equity and much more.

In my country, premature unions are still prevalent in some regions, even after the Law for the Prevention and Combat of Premature Unions was passed at the end of 2019.

However, activists, NGOs, and the government have joined forces to end this practice, which has destroyed girls' dreams and completely violated their rights.

In 2022, I wrote the poem "Menarche- An Intervention Against Premature Unions" which won the IPPF Global Communication Contest- Grab the Mic. I would like to share the poem with you, this one that portrays a girl who curses Menarche (first menstruation) for having appeared (one of the criteria for a premature union is the girl having seen her first menstruation which is seen as a symbol of maturity enough to go home).

More about that in the text below.

Good reading!

Laurinda Juma, from Mozambique

laurindajumaa@gmail.com

menarche

I heard about you

By the older sisters

I learned a little about you in school

I dreamed of how I could deal with you

Little did I know that you could break up with me

Yes,

I'm sorry I don't exist

you barely showed up

I can't learn more

You took my peace

Now I'm like the older sisters

But with an old husband

Damn day you showed up

They say I'm mature

I can't learn more

Indeed!

Now I have to learn to take care of my husband

I can hardly decide about children

Your appearance became my worst nightmare

They say I'm mature

My body is not prepared

But anyway, I'll have to upload another one

My organs still forming

But anyway

You do not mind!

Damn menarche!

If you hadn't come,

I would still be learning about myself,

About my rights

about my body

and would have decided

Damn menarche!

Laurinda Juma