TESMI has officially concluded the first phase of its impactful #BleedWithDignity campaign, a vital initiative proudly sponsored by Amplify Change. Following a series of intensive advocacy visits to several schools across Lagos State, the phase culminated in a vibrant, multi-disciplinary grand finale event celebrating young creative advocates and breaking the stigma surrounding menstrual health.
In a remarkable testament to the campaign’s digital reach, the initiative achieved massive media success by organically attracting top-tier talent entirely through its online presence. For instance, we had two schools: D Purple Pearls Hall and Solution Group of Schools, which reported learning about the initiative solely through the organization’s social media platforms. Without prior direct institutional engagement from the TESMI team, D Purple Pearls Hall’s student, Olayinka Muslimah Bolakale, went on to become the overall grand winner of the prestigious ‘My Period Story’ Essay Competition. Similarly, tracking a major social media victory, Solution Group of Schools connected with the campaign online, with their student, Akinleye Ayomide Daniella, ultimately securing a top spot as the 2nd Runner-Up in the essay category.
The students during the advocacy visit to D & D School.
The Power and Importance of the ‘My Period Story’ Competition
The ‘My Period Story’ competition served as far more than a creative contest; it was a critical, safe space designed to dismantle decades of silence, shame, and misinformation surrounding menstrual hygiene. By inviting students to share their authentic experiences through Essay Writing, Poetry, and Visual Arts, the competition empowered young girls to reclaim their narratives and vocalize the realities of period poverty.
Highlighting these stories is essential to bringing menstrual health to the forefront of public discourse, transforming personal vulnerability into a collective tool for advocacy, and ensuring that periods are recognized as a natural biological process requiring dignity, not isolation.
To foster these diverse forms of expression, the top exceptional talents in each category were awarded cash prizes of ₦50,000 for the Winner, ₦30,000 for the 1st Runner-Up, and ₦20,000 for the 2nd Runner-Up to support their education and creative journeys.
2nd Runner-Up: Babatunde Ayomide (Diamond and Dainty Private Secondary)
The entries were evaluated by an esteemed panel of external judges, invited from prominent partner organizations that share TESMI’s vision of ending period poverty and advancing adolescent reproductive health.
External Judges Taking Their Fill of The Creativeness.
Beyond the core competitions, the day was packed with high-energy advocacy and media engagement. The attending students were put in the spotlight by the TESMI Media and Communication team, participating in interactive media content creation and trivia sessions designed to amplify their voices and test their knowledge on menstrual hygiene.
“Phase One has surpassed our expectations, not just in numbers, but in the raw talent and passion these young girls displayed,” said Janet O. Peter, Media and Communication Officer at TESMI.
“Seeing Olayinka Muslimah Bolakale from a school that discovered us entirely online walk away as the overall essay champion proves the power of digital advocacy. We are immensely grateful to Amplify Change for their vital sponsorship, to Diamond and Dainty Private Secondary School for generously providing their hall, and to all our guest judges, partner schools, and the brilliant students who stood up to declare that menstruation is a matter of dignity, not shame.”
Join Us for Phase Two: Take Action Today
With the curtains drawing to a close on this successful first phase, TESMI is already leveraging this momentum to launch Phase Two, which will focus on direct grassroots community distribution of sanitary products and deep-dive menstrual hygiene education across underserved communities.
Ending period poverty requires a collective effort, and you can be a part of this change. TESMI invites individuals, corporations, and community organizations to take action with us in Phase Two:
Partner & Sponsor: Collaborate with us to expand our reach to more communities in need.
Donate: Support our drive by donating sanitary products or funding menstrual hygiene kits.
Volunteer: Offer your time, advocacy, and skills during our community outreach sessions.
Stay Connected: Subscribe to our official newsletter at https://tesminigeria.org/ for monthly impact stories and updates.
Follow the movement and help amplify our message across social media:
TESMI is a vibrant, youth-led organization based in Lagos, Nigeria, dedicated to empowering adolescents through targeted advocacy, holistic education, and strategic capacity building.
We champion critical youth issues: including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equity, and leadership development, to equip young people with the tools and confidence to create a more equitable society.
Through digital advocacy, community outreach, and grassroots initiatives like our #BleedWithDignity campaign, TESMI is actively dismantling period stigma and fighting to end period poverty for every young person.
