Support for menstrual health for girls in India

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Indian Dreams Foundation!

“According to the 2011 census, 64.7% of women in the world are currently within the menstrual age and majority of them do not have access to clean environments or safe products. Menstruation has always been surrounded by myths and taboos in many Indian societies.”

Lack of knowledge about menstruation and the associated myths lead to these implications for most of the girls & women:

• Missing school or dropping out altogether
• Lack of a support system within the community
• Limited knowledge of menstrual hygiene practices
• Health problems like Anemia, Leucorrhea and other sexually transmitted diseases due to improper menstrual hygiene practices

However, in 2016, IDF initiated Smiley Days Project that aims to address female health and hygiene issues and promote awareness as it relates to that in economically backward communities.

The program’s objectives are achieved through key strategies in the target community:

1. Educating - develop workshops to educate girls & women on biology and hygiene best practices, provide counselling sessions and distribute informative booklets

2. Providing - distribute sanitary products and build new toilet facilities for girls

3. Engaging - engage family members, schools and specialists to increase outreach

Today we are happy to share our impact so far in this report;

1. More than 3500 girls & women have been reached through different awareness generation workshops from approx. 30 slums of Agra.
2. Schoolgirls have followed improved hygiene practices during their menstruation.
3. 25 school partners have been identified.
4. 60% of partner schools have improved toilets facilities for the girls’ students.
5. As per the schools’ records, girls’ attendance has improved by 40% to 70% during the menstruation.
6. About 80% of girls have become conscious and opened up to ask the question about menstruation in follow up meetings.
7. 50% of the girls those attending the health education sessions are disseminated knowledge among other girls of their school and community.
8. Our partner schools have adopted healthy WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) practices and improved their WASH sources.
9. 100% of schools with MHM (Menstruation Health Management) focal point teachers who act as facilitators to transmit knowledge on MHM.
10. 10% strength of each school’s girls have been formed SMILEY GIRLS CLUB that provide space to adolescent girls to discuss MHM issues with their peer group.

IDF is rigorously working to change the mindsets of many girls and women towards positivity of menstruation hygiene management (MHM) & the role of MHM for 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 the future also.

We will continue to keep you updated about our work and events.

Many thanks again for your support!

Regards,

IDF Team