Good Works Gazette – October 2025

Niñas Sabias

The only thing I knew about the organization Niñas Sabias before interviewing its dynamic founder, Hana Figueroa Uriás, was they provided reusable cloth menstrual pads for local girls. This is the least they do. Niñas Sabias, which means wise girls, is on a mission to empower girls by destigmatizing menstruation and planting the seeds of personal power, knowledge and sovereignty. Largely designed for girls beginning and going through puberty (though girls and women of all ages are welcome) the program trains teachers to lead workshops about menstruation, hormonal cycles and self-empowerment.

While the information in the lessons is medically accurate, the teaching methods are steeped in indigenous tradition and incorporate multiple modes of learning. There are songs, models of both exterior and interior intimate body parts, interactive lessons and more. The workshops are a deep dive into female anatomy and physiology with a solid foray into endocrinology. And they are fun.

This is the beauty of the program. Niñas Sabias packages complex physiological and cultural material into a relatable context which fosters understanding and community. All of this without compromising their vision to give girls the power and resources to fulfill their potential. Hana was gifted the time and opportunity to develop and fine tune the curriculum thanks to the guidance and financial support of the local women’s community. She got her start in menstrual health education in 2017 through the international program Days for Girls, Lake Chapala Chapter. This matriarchal approach created a course so rich in practical and symbolic content the girls don’t just learn the material but internalize it.

The value of this workshop cannot be overstated. Accurate and concise information about the menstrual cycle is hard to come by in general and has historically been censored. The educational material that does exist (much of which has been produced by feminine product manufacturers) is neither culturally sensitive nor engaging. These materials are often comically vague. In contrast, the loving and unflinching approach of Niñas Sabias epitomizes excellent teaching practice.

The class is divided into five two-hour modules, taught as five petals of one flower. Each petal focuses on a topic to help the girls know themselves, love themselves and take care of themselves. No less than seven songs are included in the ten-hour class. These are not Barney the purple dinosaur level compositions, they are emotive and hauntingly beautiful. This is the type of multidisciplinary and inclusive education that presenters at conferences advocate but is rarely seen in actual practice.

Niñas Sabias makes this level of education possible through extensive training and certification of teachers. While the program was born here at Lakeside, it has expanded throughout the states of Jalisco and Guanajuato and is making inroads into Chihuahua and Costa Rica.

I began this column stating that providing reusable cloth menstrual pads is the least this organization does, but I do not want to make light of this part of their program. According to UNICEF, in Mexico, 43% of girls in puberty prefer not to attend school during their periods. This is often due to not having the resources to pay for feminine products. Niñas Sabias combats this issue by providing a free and sustainable alternative to disposable pads. In addition, these pads are locally sourced in the communities that Niñas Sabias serves.

Niñas Sabias has been an official Asociación Civil (nonprofit) since 2024. Their funding is varied and includes local community donations and grants from the Australian Embassy, Saint Andrew’s Anglican Church in Riberas, the Rotary Clubs of San Miguel de Allende and Ajijic, Guadalajara International, and Chihuahua Emprende. If you’re interested in helping young girls reach their full potential, you can donate to Niñas Sabias at their website: www.ninassabias.com or through the Foundation for Lake Chapala Charities: www.lakechapalacharities.org. Donations are tax deductible in Mexico, Canada and the United States.

Good Works Gazette features a different local group doing good work in our community each month. If you would like to nominate a group to be featured, please email Daria Hilton at daria_hilton@hotmail.com.