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“ Oh my God! She has stains!! ”
How many times have we heard such whispers? How many times have you seen an ashamed face trying to hide in the crowd?
Have you wondered why the student sitting in front of you is absent for so long? Ever asked yourself why she has to leave with a red face?
Did you know that every 1 out of 5 girls stop going to school as soon as they menstruate? Almost 23 million students drop out of school for this reason.
In 2019, a girl in a slum near East Delhi was diagnosed with severe vaginal infection. Unfortunately, the cloth material she used for her period was from an old blouse. The continuous contact of a hook with her vulva lead to the infection. Such infections, even deaths, are not uncommon due improper menstrual hygiene management.
Free Pads for India is an NGO that works to improve this situation by eradicating period poverty and ensuring menstrual hygiene.
What is period poverty?
Period poverty can be defined as a lack of access to menstrual products, menstrual education, proper waste management options and other necessities (like clean water and private space). This results in unhygienic menstrual practices leading to severe reproductive diseases and urine infections. It is a nasty cycle that reinforces the unhygienic practices and the associated taboos. For example, due to period students are absent from school (as the stigma forces them to become almost ‘untouchables’). Absenteeism leads to poor grades and dropouts. This increases the number of child brides. Or, she may get a low paying job which makes it impossible to afford hygienic means. Moreover, the lapse in education re-emphasises the taboos.
What do we do?
Our vision is to make “An India without period poverty and period shame.”
- We adopt menstruators from the underprivileged strata and distribute free and reusable sanitary napkins till they are self-sufficient to buy on their own.
- We educate them on menstrual hygiene and menstrual products.
- We try to end the taboos that infest society. To spread awareness we organize expert talks, seminars and webinars in collaboration with schools and colleges.
- We are trying to create a community where every menstruator and non-menstruator can talk freely about periods and with dignity.
Impact so far
- 2660 menstruators adopted.
- 24 successful events.
- 64 volunteers.
How can you help as a menstruator or a non-menstruator?
Our mission is to adopt 4000 menstruators by 2024. It is the support of our donors that keep us going and inspire us.
Help us in our initiative by becoming a donor. A contribution of minimum INR 100 can change the life of so many!
On this World Menstrual Hygiene Day (28th May), let us all pledge to fight period poverty.
Be a part of the change. Gift a smile.
Share this with everyone you know!
Follow us:
https://www.instagram.com/freepadsforindia
https://www.linkedin.com/company/free-pads-for-india/
https://m.facebook.com/freepadsforindia
Visit our web page:
https://freepadsforindia.org/
Write to us:
support@freepadsforindia.org
