A PASSIONATE Rowley Regis woman is back from a once-in-a-lifetime experience helping villagers in rural Bangladeshi access health, rights and training services.

Kate Weaver spent seven months working mainly with young women empowering them about their sexual reproduction health rights.

The 26-year-old said many did not understand about their own menstruation and knew nothing of contraception which is available at health clinics.

Miss Weaver took part in a programme set up by the International Citizen Service through the Voluntary Service Overseas charity.

She lived with two host families in their village homes whilst working on the programme which also aimed to make people aware of their rights and responsibilities and helped with livelihood training – with courses in areas including tailoring, computers and mobile phone servicing.

But her main work was with young women and teenage girls in a bid to overcome the stigma surrounding sexual health and advise them about the health clinics that exist where they could access services including contraception.

Peer educaters were trained by the volunteers so they could continue promoting sexual health.

Domestic life was basic with squat toilets and bucket showers, but the villagers did have electricity – although power cuts were frequent – and the people were welcoming.

Miss Weaver, who previously covered Sandwell working for the National Citizenship Services, said: “It was an incredible one-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I learned so much and it opened my eyes about all the opportunities there are for us, which we should make the most of because other people are not so fortunate.”

She said no one would talk to teenage girls about what it was like to be married and to have babies and there was no sex education in the schools.

“We are so lucky to have friends, advice, nurses, clinics and lessons that are very open. I want to make people aware of that – to encourage people to develop themselves to take the opportunities and to help others,” added Miss Weaver.