ENGAGING IN DISCUSSIONS SURROUNDING MENSTRUAL HEALTH, BREAST AND BRA HEALTH, CONFIDENCE BUILDING AND FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN SPORT
The Department of Equity, Social Justice, Gender and Older Persons has partnered with the ESP Foundation, led by former professional footballer and community advocate Eartha Pond, to deliver a targeted initiative aimed at empowering young women in sport through education, mentorship and wellness support.
The “Girls Allowed / FlowMotion” activation took place on May 12, at the Saint Lucia Sports Academy, engaging female student-athletes, coaches and support staff in discussions surrounding menstrual health, breast and bra health, confidence-building and female participation in sport.
Ms. Pond, who represented Saint Lucia during the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup qualifiers in 2023 and has enjoyed a distinguished football career with UK based clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, said the initiative was rooted in her desire to give back to Saint Lucia and support young women through education and practical resources.
"We know that the government's done a massive commitment in terms of period poverty and trying to eradicate that on the island, so one of the objectives is to share what our program is, what it does and hopefully be able to spread that across the island in terms of supporting more young girls in schools," Pond noted.
“As someone from the diaspora, it was important for me to return home and give back. Through the ESP Foundation, we are creating safe spaces for girls to learn about menstrual and breast health while ensuring they have the resources and confidence to remain active and engaged in sport.”
Participants received specially prepared “Code Red" packages containing menstrual supplies,
educational resources, hot water bottles and sports bras, designed to support girls’ health and wellbeing.
Moderator Bernice Lewis described the initiative as an important intervention addressing women's issues that are often overlooked.
“We recognize that conversations surrounding confidence, hygiene, breast health and periods are critical to the growth and wellbeing of young women. This initiative is helping to normalize those discussions while empowering girls through education and support. We are deeply appreciative of her commitment to uplifting and empowering girls across Saint. Lucia," Lewis noted.
Speaking on behalf of the Department of Equity, Darnally Esteva-St. Ange said the collaboration aligns directly with the Ministry’s mandate to empower vulnerable groups and strengthen gender equity initiatives.
This is a pilot effort that we are hoping to scale on a national level. This partnership reflects our commitment to empowering young women and addressing challenges that directly affect their development, confidence and participation in society. We are hopeful that this pilot initiative can eventually be expanded to young ladies like you all across Saint Lucia,” she explained.
The initiative was coordinated through the Community Development Unit of the Ministry of Equity, in collaboration with the ESP Foundation and facilitated through professional linkages established with the Saint Lucia High Commission in London.
The initiative complements ongoing national efforts by the Government of Saint Lucia, to help alleviate period poverty through an allocation of EC$250,000 to schools for the procurement and distribution of free feminine hygiene products to students, along with the removal of VAT on feminine hygiene products.
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