Support for menstrual health for girls in India

Dear Friends,

Greetings!

A girl named Varsha (name changed) has shared her story of confidence and how she tackled her first period without feeling guilt & shame.

“My first periods began at the age of thirteen, three months ago from today. I don’t have mother who can talk to me everything about my periods, she left me when I was just seven years old but I am still having someone who educates me about period issues; that’s Smiley Days team and girls of Smiley Club.

I was in school when I got my first period. My friend noticed that I was staining. Then she brought me to the washroom and handed over me a sanitary pad. She is a member of Smiley Girls Club so she has to keep her eyes on every girl if someone in trouble during menstruation.

A few months ago before I got my first periods, Smiley Days team conducted a workshop on menstrual hygiene management & puberty in my school. My all friends and girls from senior classes were attended and informed about our periods & biological process to get periods every month. Few of my friends along with me didn’t start even first period at that time. But we were excited to know the changes occur during puberty and how to tackle period days with dignity and comfort?

Now I have also become an active member of the Smiley Girls Club and motivate other young girls about their physical changes. I feel proud of myself and thanks to Smiley Days that prepared me for my first period and I tacked it with confidence”.                              

The project Smiley Days are helping such girls to access them the right information at the right time on menstruation and related issues. Many girls like Varsha attend regular awareness sessions on MHM and reproductive health in their schools as well as their communities on a regular interval.

Thanks to all for your generous support & love for this project that changing the lives of many girls in India!

Regards,

Team IDF

Hi Friends,

Greetings!

Team Smiley Days has identified 20 new schools last month to establish a partnership with them and educate, aware & empower school girls towards puberty, MHM and well – being.

The schools have reopened after summer vacations and we have conducted an awareness workshop in newly identified school on 10^th July. The school is located in a dense slum area. The girls who enrolled in this school come from the near communities and have no knowledge of their body. At the beginning of the awareness generation session, these girls looked shy & hesitated to hear the word “PERIODS”. Few of them hid their faces but others looked curious to know about the topic. We used an interactive way during the session by distributing blank paper & pen to everyone to write their queries on the topic.

We allowed them to mark on the paper if you are still using the cloth to absorb the menstrual flow. The Smiley Days team was shocked to know the results of this activity i.e. 40% girls marked that they use cloth sometimes, 10% girls marked that they use cloths on regular basis and only 50% girls use sanitary pads during periods. The team described that if you use cloths during periods, the few things always keep in mind i.e. always use clean & cotton cloth, the cloth should be properly washed & dried in the sunlight, always wash your hands with soap before & after changing the pads etc.

“I don’t wash my hair when I menstruate because my friends say, if I wash my hair during period days my eyesight will become low and I feel more pain in my abdomen. Didi! Is it true?” this question raised by Surbhi (name changed) a 15 years old girl. The team has collected many queries that mostly connected with the myths & taboos associated with the Periods.

The Smiley Days team is rigorously working to overcome the social barriers associated with menstruation by providing the right knowledge & information on MHM & reproductive rights.

We are very excited for GlobalGiving upcoming July 18 Bonus Day. Only a few days are left! This Bonus Day is all about matching BIG gifts that will help us to continue the project and making differences in the lives of women & girls. The JULY BONUS DAY is starting on Thursday, July 18.

The higher the donation, the higher the match!

We thank you for your support for the girls and women’s reproductive health and rights in India and we will continue to keep you updated about our work and stories from the field.

Regards,

Team IDF