Support for menstrual health for girls in India

Dear friends,

Greetings from the Indian Dreams Foundation!

We are happy to share the progress report of the Smiley Days Project that addresses the menstrual hygiene management. It is an important aspect of the life of women and adolescent girls between menarche and menopause. Despite being so the topic is often underestimated or even overlooked by society. In India, talking openly about periods is even forbidden. Our society considers it to be a taboo and this makes us ignorant about such an essential aspect of women’s health. 

We regularly interact with many adolescent girls and discuss their issues. Today we came up with a story of change under Smiley Days Project;

^{Renu, a 14-year-old girl lives with her family in a slum of Agra. She is currently in the 6th standard. Renu feels very shy about answering the questions on menstruation. She started with her menstrual cycle at the age of 13. It happened quite naturally, she went to the washroom and observed the blood in her urine. She went all scared to her mother as she didn’t have any prior knowledge about menstruation. Her mother and teachers never educated her regarding this. Even when she went to her mother and informed her about the blood in urine her mother just handed her a piece of cloth and told her that as she is a girl and grown-up it was meant to happen.}

^{Renu used to use the piece of cloth until she was educated about the use of sanitary pads at Smiley Days Workshop which was organized in her school. Renu admitted that using pads relieved her from severe stomachache and itching. She said that she likes to sleep all day long during menstruation and her mother takes care of her during those five days by providing her milk and vegetables which she doesn’t get in normal days.}

^{So now Renu is mature enough to understand the benefits of the use of sanitary pads and now she educates other girls in her school for using sanitary pads.} 

^{Thank you so much for your support,}

^Regards,

^{Team IDF}