Icare PowerPeriod Campaign

What were Manyazewal Eshetu thinking? A podcast titled “I fell in love with the man who raped me”? This is beyond unacceptable. Rape is not love. It’s a violent crime, a violation of trust and humanity. Romanticizing or normalizing such trauma is dangerous—it silences survivors, perpetuates harmful myths, and excuses abuse. As advocates for women’s rights, we must call this out. Platforms like podcasts should educate or entertain—not exploit pain for shock value. To everyone with a platform: do better. Survivors deserve respect, not sensationalism. Let’s demand accountability. Stories like this harm us all. #Advocacy #StopVictimBlaming #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #ethiopia #professionalism Addis Powerhouse Hana Lale Mahlet Z R. Hanna Lemma Article 35

Menstruation should not be barrier!! it’s a natural part of life!! Through initiatives like Icare PowerPeriod Campaign Birqe Dignity Bucket @weeapowerperiodassociation Women Economic Empowerment Africa we’re tackling period poverty head-on making sure girls stay in school, continue their education, and unlock their full potential. When we dignify menstruation, we empower women to thrive, build careers, and drive economic growth. Our very own Mahlet Z R. has been a powerful advocate for dignity, period poverty, and menstrual health management (MHM). She plays an important role in addressing period poverty, its impact on woman, gender equality, economy, supply chain on period products and the sustainable developments both in Ethiopia and on a global scale. She passionately states, “I believe that by breaking the stigma and promoting period equity, we can create a world where every girl and woman has the opportunity to succeed.” This weekend, she will represent the impactful movements she leads on menstruation during a panel discussion organized by Dignified Menstruation Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation at Harvard University

Today marks another day in the global campaign of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. As we advocate for justice and equality, it’s time we shine a light on a troubling reality: the harassment and abuse girls face in educational institutions worldwide. 💔 Shocking Global Statistics: 🗣️According to a UNESCO report, 246 million children and adolescents experience school-related gender-based violence each year. 🗣️A study by Plan International revealed that 1 in 3 girls in universities globally have reported experiencing sexual harassment from faculty or peers. 🗣️In Sub-Saharan Africa, female students are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation, often being coerced for grades in exchange for “favors.” This problem robs millions of girls of their right to safe learning environments, leading to school dropouts, emotional trauma, and lost opportunities to contribute to their societies. Education is meant to empower, not endanger. 🚨 The Reality in Universities: In many classrooms, young women are not just battling academic challenges; they’re forced to navigate threats from those meant to support their education. From being bullied by peers to being assaulted by professors for grades, these injustices occur in spaces designed for growth and innovation. 👩🏾🎓 Girls’ Education Matters‼️‼️ The impact of these abuses extends beyond the classroom. It leads to: 💔A decline in women’s participation in the workforce. 💔Increased poverty cycles as education is disrupted. 💔A setback in achieving gender equality and sustainable development. ‼️‼️Every girl deserves an education free from fear. Together, we can create a world where educational spaces are safe, empowering, and equitable for all.‼️‼️ Share your thoughts or experiences below, and let’s continue the conversation on ending gender-based violence in education. #16DaysOfActivism #GirlsEducation #SafeSpaces #EndGBV #genderequality

🚨 16 Days of Activism: End Sexual Harassment in Public Transport 🚨 Every day, countless women experience sexual harassment while using public transport—a space that should be safe for everyone. This image reflects the silent struggles many endure, often surrounded by indifference. It’s a call to action for all of us to break the silence, challenge societal norms, and create safe spaces where women can travel without fear or discomfort. Harassment is not “just part of life.” It’s a violation of dignity, safety, and human rights. Together, we must advocate for stronger policies, better reporting systems, and public awareness to address this pervasive issue. 🛑 Take a stand: •Call out inappropriate behavior when you see it. •Support victims by being an active bystander. •Demand better protections and accountability in public spaces. #16DaysOfActivism #EndGBV #SafeSpacesForWomen #StopHarassment #GenderEquality

Almost a year ago, a friend sent me a screenshot from a Telegram channel that shared nude images of Ethiopian women for paying subscribers. It was a deeply disturbing revelation that I couldn’t ignore. I knew I had to write an investigative story to uncover the underground networks fueling the exploitation of young Ethiopian women. I joined a few of them and spent a couple of months observing the type of content shared, the motives behind it, and the payment methods enabling this sick trade. Finding a victim willing to share her story proved to be another lengthy and challenging process. Then, I encountered a women’s rights activist fighting against revenge porn in Ethiopia. Her trust in me became a turning point—she connected me with a survivor who was open to sharing her experience with the public. My conversation with this survivor was profoundly heartbreaking, offering a stark glimpse into the devastating impact of revenge porn in Ethiopia. "After my images were leaked, I attempted suicide six times," she told me. Despite her immense trauma, she continues to fight for her mental health, advocate for change, and refuse to let the predators define her future. I chose to use the pseudonym Hewan Tewelde to tell her story. The name "Hewan" symbolizes women, while "Tewelde" reflects her determination to reclaim her happiness and agency. Hers is just one among thousands of similar stories of Ethiopian women caught in these exploitative networks. This investigative piece dives into the alarming rise of revenge porn in Ethiopia, where intimate images are shared without consent and monetized through organized schemes. What began as isolated cases has evolved into a sinister industry, with social media platforms and online payment systems facilitating the exploitation. If left unchecked, this growing menace threatens to destroy the lives of countless women across the country. I am deeply grateful to the women who trusted me to tell their stories, despite being in a sea of abuse. My thanks also go to the creative team at Shega whose visual contributions were integral to amplifying the gravity of this issue. In addition, I am very committed to supporting Hewan. If you have any suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Establishing a mechanism for her to access a mental health professional would be especially impactful. Warning: This story contains details that some readers may find disturbing. https://lnkd.in/dvUhMQdf

Today, we stand united in solidarity and hope. On World AIDS Day, let’s raise awareness, fight stigma, support those living with HIV, and empower youth to lead the change. Together, we can work towards a future free from AIDS. #WorldAIDSDay #EndStigma #AwarenessAndAction #HIVAIDSAwareness #YouthForChange #YouthLeadership #GlobalHealth #StopHIVTogether #EndingTheEpidemic #HealthForAll”

#16daysofactivism. የስምንተኛ ክፍል መልቀቂያ ብሔራዊ ፈተና (በዘመኑ አጠራር ‹‹ሚኒስትሪ››) የሚቀበሉ አንድ የመንግሥት የመጀመሪያ ደረጃ ትምህርት ቤት ተማሪዎች በተዘጋጀላቸው የፈተና ጣቢያ ውስጥ ተቀምጠው የፈተናውን መጀመር በመጠባበቅ ላይ ነበሩ፡፡ የተጠበቀው ሰዓት ደረሰና የመጀመሪያ የሆነው የአማርኛ ፈተና ታደለ፡፡ ተማሪው ሁሉ አንገቱን አቀርቅሮ ፈተናውን በመሥራት ላይ እንዳለ አንዲት ልጃገረድ በድንገት ፈተናውን ጥላ ከክፍሉ ወጣች፡፡ ተመልሳም አልመጣችም፡፡ እንደወጣች በዛው ቀረች፡፡ ፈተናው አልቆ ወረቀት ከተሰበሰበ በኋላ ተማሪው ሁሉ የተቀመጠችበትን ወንበር ከቦ መመልከት ጀመረ፡፡ ወንበሯ በደም ተበክሏል፡፡ ከክፍል ፈተና ሳትፈተን የወጣችው የወር አበባዋ መጥቶ በመፍሰሱ ነበር፡፡ የወር አበባ እንደነውር የሚቆጠር ከመሆኑም በላይ የወር አበባ መጥቶብኛል ብላ ለመናገር የምትደፍር ማግኘት ከባድ ነው፡፡ የወር አበባ ላይ ሲሆኑም ከትምህርት ገበታ ተለይተው ቤት መዋሉ የተለመደ ነው፡፡ በወር አበባዋ የተነሳ እፍረት ተሰምቷት ስምንት ዓመት ሙሉ የተማረችውን ሳትፈተን እንደወጣች በዛው ከትምህርት ገበታዋ ቀረች የወር አበባ ደም አፀያፊ አይደለም !! የወር አበባሽን በማየትሽ ኩሪ !! የወር አበባ ውበትና ጤንነት ነው!! Icare PowerPeriod Campaign Birqe Dignity Bucket Adey Pads አደይ የሚታጠብ ሞዴስ አምራች Hanan Abdi yetnayet solomon (yeti-pads ) Mulugeta Genanu (PhD) #16DaysOfActivism #EndPeriodPoverty #PeriodDignityForAll #BleedingWithDignity #BreakThePeriodStigma #MenstrualHealthMatters #PadsForProgress #PeriodRightsAreHumanRights #NoMorePeriodPoverty #empowerperiods

Save the Date 📌 Join us this Saturday for a storytelling and femicide exhibition, and a coffee talk to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism. In collaboration with Article 35 and SIHA, Addis Powerhouse has organized this event centering the rising prevalence of violence against women and current accountability mechanisms in Ethiopia. If you have ever found yourself questioning the systemic violence against women, this one is for you 🫵🏽

Everything starts with education. This beautiful mural was created at Halelhuya Elementary and Primary School, a school we’ve proudly partnered with since 2020. I still remember how Hana Lale and I first connected with the school and how our journey began. Over the years, we’ve witnessed incredible progress. Girls no longer miss classes due to period poverty, Icare PowerPeriod Campaign ans Birqe Dignity Bucket did amazing job, now their male classmates have become strong allies, openly discussing periods and supporting their peers. Every visit warms my heart—seeing the boys organize pads and express gratitude, saying, “Thank you for bringing pads for our sisters. Now they won’t miss school.” Now, thanks to our recent collaboration with Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network Dukaye Amare Mergia this powerful wall art has come to life! It’s more than just a painting; it’s a symbol of breaking the stigma surrounding periods and empowering students to embrace the conversation confidently. This dignifies menustration in school. I can’t wait to hear feedback from the students and teachers—how this mural helping them and challenges taboos in their daily lives. creating spaces where girls feel supported and no one is left behind feels amazing. Because they will stay in school to make impact in the economy and be global change. Yesssss! Periods shouldn’t be a barrier to education. Join our fight to continue to build a future where everyone thrives, one school at a time. Icare PowerPeriod Campaign Women Economic Empowerment Africa Adey Pads አደይ የሚታጠብ ሞዴስ አምራች @jegnitethiopia #EducationForAll #PeriodPoverty #BreakingStigma #GenderEquality #EmpoweringYouth #sdg4 #sdg5 #sdg6 #sdg8 #sdg13 #sdg17

Thanks to Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network’s sponsorship, 200 students at Hallelujah School in Addis Ababa, #Ethiopia, received Birqe Dignity Bucket , providing essential menstrual health resources to empower young girls. The event was filled with impactful activities on #PeriodJustice, including lessons on sustainable dignity kits and Menstrual Health and Hygiene. Students added their own voices through inspiring performances in music, poetry, and drama, making the day both educational and uplifting. An art session encouraged students to reflect on their learning and share powerful messages through their artwork. Dukaye Amare Mergia Mickal Mamo Adey Pads አደይ የሚታጠብ ሞዴስ አምራች Mahlet Z R. Women Economic Empowerment Africa UN Women የሴቶችና ማህበራዊ ጉዳይ ሚኒስቴር Ministry of Women and Social Affairs የሴቶችና ማህበራዊ ጉዳይ ሚኒስቴር Ministry of Women and Social Affairs Ministry of Health Ministry of Education — Ethiopia #DayOfTheGirl #DayOfTheGirl2024 #MHM #BirqeDignityKit #JegnitEthiopia #IcarePowerPeriod #period #periodequity