By Nisha Kumari | Coordinator
Dear Friends,
Greetings from the Indian Dreams Foundation!
We are pleased to come up with the story of a remarkable change in the life of one of our beneficiaries of the Smiley Days Project. Radha (name changed) is a 15 years old girl and a resident of an urban slum in Agra city, Uttar Pradesh state, India. Her father is an extreme drunkard and an unemployed man. He has an indifferent attitude towards the responsibilities of his family and is a continuous perpetrator who makes Radha’s mother a constant victim of domestic violence. She has four siblings of which there are three brothers and one sister. The poor financial condition of the family pushed Radha’s brothers to work as wage labours. Her mother has to work as a full-time maid to make both ends meet.
When Radha started menstruating at the age of 14, it was a horrific incident for her as she had no support and the required privacy. For her community including her mother menstruation is all about days filled with pain and societal seclusion. She had to endure taunts and stigmas associated with the cycle and had no support at all. All this led Radha to live in awful conditions combined with unhygienic menstrual practices. She had to miss school during the cycle due to a lack of adequate space, privacy and the needed facilities.
Radha said, “I was so depressed and felt alone during those days, I wanted to discuss with someone who gave me appropriate advice. But I was helpless and all day I was surrounded by male family members in my family. Even my mother didn’t have time to talk to me and she always suggested I keep silent. Many of my friends had started periods but they didn’t have the knowledge and they all were like me”.
On a visit to Radha’s school, IDF identified Radha as a victim of menstrual myths and taboos. So, she was enrolled as a beneficiary under IDF’s Smiley Days Project. She was provided with extensive counselling by the female counsellor and was also made to attend regular workshops where she was educated about the scientific process of menstruation, its importance, safe menstrual practices to be followed and SRHR (Sexual Reproductive Health Rights). She was made aware that menstruation is not a monthly disaster, but a matter of pride as it reflects the overall well-being of a girl. She was also provided with Sanitary Kits comprising Sanitary napkins, soap, vaginal wash, sanitiser and other useful items required during menstruation. She was motivated to continue with school during her cycle and not to feel ashamed of menstruation.
Such was an impact of our efforts on Radha that she is a very different girl today. She is happily attending classes during her cycles since she is receiving proper care and the required support by team IDF. According to Radha, “the Smiley Days workshops attended by me have enabled me to concentrate on my studies during the cycles without getting worried about it. I am not ashamed of menstruation anymore and feel empowered to deal with the stigma attached to the issue. I am encouraging other girls in my community to stop assuming menstruation as a disaster and start focusing on what is important for our future."
IDF is delighted to witness such a massive change in Radha and hopes to create an army of happy and confident girls.
Many thanks again for your support!
We will continue to keep you updated about our work and events.
(Dear well-wishers, you may give us points between 1 to 10 to the extent of your satisfaction with our performance. We will be glad to get your response)
Regards,
Team IDF
By Jyoti Singh | Project Lead
By Jyoti Singh | Project Lead
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