Support for menstrual health for girls in India

Dear friends,

Greetings from the Indian Dreams Foundation!

We are happy to share the success stories of our beneficiaries and the impact of the project on the ground. The project team regularly interacts with many adolescent girls and discusses their issues by providing appropriate counselling/ guidance. Mothers became too conscious towards their daughters as they brought them to us for counselling.

Today we came up with a story of change;

Ignorance leads to a problem that otherwise could have been avoided. Monika (name changed) is one such person who is ignorant about periods that caused her various difficulties. She was unfamiliar with the existence of a biological process called the Menstrual Cycle. She was shy and ignorant about periods until her mother introduced them to her when she attained menarche at the age of 13. She faced difficulty in using sanitary napkins but only after her cousin taught her the correct way of using them, she found it manageable.

However, the major issue she faced due to a lack of proper knowledge was the misconception of irregular periods. Not only Monika but also her mother was unable to guide her. Monika skipped periods for six months after menarche and as a consequence, she consulted a doctor. Medication leads to periods for two months but again she skipped periods for a few months.

Our team tried to educate her and her mother that after the first period, the Menstrual Cycle takes some time to become normal and regular. The team also informed her about some crucial aspects related to menstrual health, hygiene, and its management under the Menstrual Health Awareness Project. In the process of taking feedback, the team came to know that her periods are regular now and she is very thankful to the organization.

Now Monika regularly attends awareness sessions under the project and she has connected some of her friends with the project for guidance.

There are many success stories of girls who become aware of their menstrual rights and well-being.

Thank you so much for your support!

Regards,

Team IDF

"PERIODS is No More Shame.  It's my pride; well, it's a pride for every girl. Every girl needs to know about her first periods. Getting knowledge of Periods is everyone's right", said Naina, 13 years girl (Name changed) 

Naina is an innocent girl. She never attended school, so no one told her about the periods. Even her mother never told her about periods. So when she got her first period a few months ago, she didn’t know what was happening with her. She experienced her first periods when playing at home, and her dress was spoiled.

Naina rushed to her mother with a sobbing reaction. She told her mother about this. Naina was scared and afraid. She said, “Mummy… please see my panty; there is blood on my panty, and I feel I caught a wound because blood continuously flows from where I pee (Vagina). My frock is also ruined”.

Naina’s mother silently listened to her and said, “It is natural. Every girl has to face it someday. I am too experiencing it. We call it Periods. I will bring you to the IDF team tomorrow, and then Didi will describe to you all about the periods. Till then, put this pad in your panty; it will soak your blood”.

Naina’s mother handed a sanitary napkin to Naina without telling her how to use it. Naina was unaware of the sanitary napkins usage, and she started improperly using napkins.  And the result was that she again and again spoiled her dress. She was confused about what was happening to her. She again told her mother about the solution.

However, the next day, her mother brought her to the IDF’s community centre, where the team counselled her and educated her about the periods, terms associated with the first periods, hygienic ways to stay healthy during periods and how to use sanitary pads, etc.

Now, Naina enjoys her periods with dignity and uses her pads properly. She visits IDF’s community centre regularly and meets with the female counsellors. Her mother told the team, “Thank you, team IDF, who provided my daughter with the right knowledge. I might not be capable of giving the right knowledge because even I didn’t know about it. But I feel happy that today, my daughter and I are equipped with proper knowledge”. 

Thanks to all the supporters who are changing the lives of many underprivileged girls and helping them spread education on menstrual health and hygiene. 

Thanks & Regards,

Team IDF