Support for menstrual health for girls in India

It was an energetic winter morning on Saturday 17th December, team Indian Dreams Foundation reached an urban slum of Agra to promote the importance of menstrual hygiene and well-being. The target group was underserved adolescent girls and women who live in unhygienic circumstances and have challenges dealing with their periods and they do not have the knowledge to deal with menstruation appropriately and hygienically.

Our team reached the slum on a cloudy morning and collected women to attend the awareness workshop on MHM and well-being. The workshop started with an introduction to menstruation, the anatomy of the female body, the importance of hygiene during menstruation and way to keep them healthy and hygienic during menstruation. It was in the interactive and informative workshop. More than 75 women attended and received knowledge.

The workshop was specially conducted to target mothers so that they understand the importance of periods and periods-related hygiene for their daughters and they understand the right time and right way to talk to their daughters about menstrual hygiene. 

The workshop was concluded by providing free menstrual hygiene kits to the participants that included a pack of sanitary napkins, a panty and soap.

Below is the feedback shared by one of the participants at the end of the workshop;

Seema (name changed) 34 years said,  “I am a mother of three daughters. My eldest daughter is about 11 years old. I was really confused to talk about periods with her. But after attending this workshop today, I understand that it’s the right time to tell her about the periods to make her prepare for her first periods. Thank you didi (project’s counsellor) to provide us right information”.

Your generous support continues to impact the girls’ menstrual health at the Indian Dreams Foundation.

We warmly invite you to consider making a year-end donation to go toward promoting menstrual hygiene management in girls and women in 2023.

Thanks & Regards,

Team IDF

“Smiley Days Project targets adolescent girls and women to educate them about their reproductive rights and menstrual hygiene management. It also helps them in overcoming the social barriers associated with menstruation that restrict them for the overall development and build confidence to cope with future challenges”

On 10th December 2022, an awareness workshop was organized for the school girls from grade 8th onwards. The interactive workshop was conducted at TotaRam Inter College, Agra under the guidance of the Project Lead. The session started with the introduction of the team and participants to normalize the topic. The team conducted the first workshop in this school on menstrual hygiene management and covered the following topics – Puberty, Physical changes during Puberty age, and when Periods start. What practices should we follow to stay healthy during menstruation? Myths & taboos associated with menstruation etc.

Approx 100 school girls and teachers participated in the workshop with enthusiasm. Most of the girls looked shy and uncomfort at the beginning of the session but at the end of the session, they were happy to get important knowledge about their own bodies for their healthy future.  

Sanitary napkins were distributed free of cost to all the participants so that they can know the importance of sanitary napkins and personal hygiene. 

Smiley Days team regularly conducts educational sessions on periods in schools and communities and tries to make this topic more common.

Thanks to our supporters who are changing lives and creating an educated & empowered world for women and girls.

Regards,

Team IDF