Support for menstrual health for girls in India

“Now I am a happy girl and enjoy my periods. I motivate younger girls in my school to follow hygiene practices during periods. When I first attended the IDF workshop, I was ashamed and nervous and hid my face during the entire workshop but on the other hand I was happy as the trainer didi explained everything in a detailed and very friendly way. Since that day, my life has changed. Today I feel proud of myself for menstruating regularly. I timely educate other girls also. Thank you, IDF for the wonderful project and for changing the mindsets and lives of many girls like me”.

Manju (name changed) is a 17-year-old girl, who belongs to a poor underprivileged community in India. Her mother is uneducated and she didn’t say anything about periods with Manju. Manju said, "When I got my first period, I was alone; no one could tell me about the periods, what happened to me, or why I was bleeding. Many questions in my mind created a disturbance and lost my confidence to do regular activities. I faced many challenges as I did not know what to do”.

 She said, "It was a winter morning when I got my first period. I didn’t hear about it before. My school teachers did not tell me about periods, as well as none of my friends knew about it. They just laughed by hiding their faces. I was puzzled. I stopped going outside and stayed at home for a few days. That was a tough time for me. I asked for help from my mother who gave me an old piece of cloth the cloth gave me a nasty smell, and she pointed me to use it to soak the bleeding. Since then, I only used clothes because I didn't know the other options".

 Manju said, "Last year, I attended the menstruation awareness workshop that the Indian Dreams Foundation in my community organized. I learned about the scientific process of menstruation and why it is important for every girl. The cloth that I was using is not hygienic and can create severe problems in regular usage. I received a packet of sanitary pads along with Smiley Days hygiene kit during the workshop which is a life-changing solution for me”. 

She added, that now I am a happy girl and enjoy my periods. I motivate younger girls in my school to follow hygiene practices during periods. When I first attended the IDF workshop, I was ashamed and nervous and hid my face during the entire workshop but on the other hand I was happy as the trainer didi explained everything in a detailed and very friendly way. Since that day, my life has changed. Today I feel proud of myself for menstruating regularly. I timely educate other girls also. Thank you, IDF for the wonderful project and for changing the mindsets and lives of many girls like me

 Though, Indian Dreams Foundation is rigorously working to achieve a positive impact through the Menstrual hygiene awareness program in the slums of Agra (India). We always need your support & motivation to achieve a high impact on the large masses.

As Thanksgiving approaches, IDF wants to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the wonderful donors and well-wishers for your generous support and unwavering commitment to our cause or changing the lives of girls and women. Your generous donation has made a significant impact on girls and women's reproductive health and empowerment. However, your continuous support can change the lives of many girls in India and will provide them with dignified and confident smiles. 

Your support can change the lives of many girls like Manju and will give them feathers to fly with confidence even during periods. 

 Thanks & Regards,

 Team IDF