CARICOM Youth Ambassador Combats Menstrual Hygiene Stigma with Donation to Police Recruits

In a gesture that combined practical support with a powerful message about health awareness and dignity, a CARICOM Youth Ambassador has donated menstrual hygiene and personal care supplies to the latest cohort of police recruits — bringing meaningful attention to an issue that is too often kept in the shadows.

CARICOM Youth Ambassador Chrysean Jarvis and his team donated menstrual hygiene and personal care supplies to members of Course #50 of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda on May 28, as part of activities marking Menstrual Hygiene Day.

The donation included toiletries, sanitizers, disinfectants, and feminine hygiene products, with a focus on supporting the well-being of the cohort, particularly its female recruits.

Breaking the Silence

The initiative sought to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene management and encourage open discussions aimed at reducing the stigma often associated with menstruation.

By choosing police recruits as the recipients of the donation, Jarvis directed attention to a group of women who are in the demanding physical and mental environment of police training — where access to adequate hygiene supplies is not always a given, and where conversations about menstrual health are rarely prioritised.

Youth Dialogue at the Fore

During the visit, Jarvis and his team also held discussions with recruits on youth engagement, partnership-building, and issues affecting young people across society — transforming what could have been a simple donation into a meaningful exchange between youth leaders and the next generation of law enforcement officers.

Community Support Behind the Effort

The effort was supported by several youth leaders and community partners, including the National Youth Ambassador Corps under the Department of Youth Affairs and Ibrahim Construction Ltd.

The Royal Police Force thanked Jarvis and the supporting organisations for their contribution and commitment to youth empowerment and health awareness.

Chrysean Jarvis continues to demonstrate that youth leadership in Antigua and Barbuda is not merely symbolic — it is purposeful, community-driven, and unafraid to tackle the conversations that matter.