By Jyoti Singh | Project Head
Dear Friends,
We thank all stakeholders and well-wishers for their generous support and well wishes which motivates us to do something more for the improvement and wellbeing of underprivileged girls and women through our initiated program “Smiley Days”. Our program is scaling its height at a broad level like reaching out to new communities and new girls and women.
This year “Smiley Days” program has reached up to 11 new slums and 5 new schools of Agra District as of today, we are in process to spread awareness on MHM & Puberty in new identified slums & schools; however young girls have no information about their body changes. We have designed our education sessions in such a way where they can easily discuss the related topics like changes in body, menstruation, hygiene issues etc.
However, in the last few months, IDF has been developing the capacity of the chosen SMILEY GIRLS CLUB in the areas of menstrual health & hygiene through regular discussion sessions & meetings. The Smiley Girls Clubs are formed in different partner schools that consist, group of active school girls, those are working as catalysts and ambassadors for the Menstrual Health and spread the mission of the program.
Our identified Smiley Girls regular conduct peer counselling sessions with their related school girls to collect the queries, problems as well as monitors the progress of the girls. Smiley girls have collected a few queries of the schoolgirls and discussed with the IDF team;
Sanjana, 12th class, Member of Smiley Girls Club at C.P. Inter College collected below query;
Some school girls asked that “What should be used during menstruation? Is cloth is a good option?” However, our team has faced this question many times during awareness sessions with school girls & young women in slums; most of the girls have the same query. Our team suggested the girls use sanitary napkins during periods that are more comfortable and safe to avoid infections and make you feel confident.
Another question often asked by the majority of schoolgirls was;
“If a girl has heavy pain during its periods, then she should take painkillers for relief or not?” Our team explained her side effects of taking painkillers and advised to do regular exercise and if a girl does not get relief then she should consult with a Doctor.
In the next step of the program, we are in process to form Women’s Group in the target communities and name them ROSHNI DIDI CLUB. That club consists of active & influential women from the slums who will work with us as the catalyst and change agents and help to convey our message among the beneficiaries.
We are rigorously working to change the mindsets of many girls and women towards positivity of the menstruation hygiene management (MHM) & the role of MHM in the well-being of the women. This all could be possible due to your continuous support and we hope that you will support us like that in a future also.
Thank you,
Team IDF
By Jyoti Singh | Project Head
By Jyoti Singh | Project Head
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