By Shankri Tomar | Project Intern
Dear Friends,
Greetings from Indian Dreams Foundation!
I am very glad to share the recent progress report of our project “Smiley Days”, which imparts menstrual health and hygiene awareness to adolescent girls and women who are living in the slums. Your support and well wishes have been changing lives of many girls by making them aware of and sensitizing them towards female health issues.
I mentioned in our previous report that we have reached out to new areas, namely Devri Road, where we have been establishing partnerships with different schools. So far, we have established partnerships with four schools from the new area.
Recently, IDF has conducted an interactive workshop on Menstrual Health and Hygiene issues in Tagore Bal Niketan Public School, Devri Road, Agra.
It was an interesting and interactive session. Approximately 175 girls from the age group of 11- 15 years and 10 female teachers participated and left informed about Menstrual Hygiene Management, with a special focus on the process of menstruation, use of sanitary napkins for better hygiene and disposal of the sanitary pads in a proper manner to maintain the environment. In the beginning of the program, the girls seemed shy and very hesitant to speak but after half an hour, counselors were able to successfully communicate with them. The girls started to interact with our counselors and showed their interest in topics related to their physical health and development. All girls were actively participated and enjoyed the session. The counselors used some posters during the session for better understanding the concepts of menstruation.
Many girls asked questions during the session, some of which are detailed below:
Nandani, 13 years asked “Why do I feel a lot of pain during menstruation and what should we do to get relief from it?” Our counselor explained to her the reasons behind painful menstruation and suggested some ways she could control it. Nandani said that she was very happy to attend the session not only because she gained knowledge from it but also because it encouraged her to talk more freely about menstruation, something that she was not comfortable with before.
Pranjal, an another girl from VII class, said that before that session she thought that menstruation was a punishment for the girls but now she has realized that she was completely wrong. She asserts that it is an identity of a healthy girl and that she is very happy to be a girl. She added that after attending the session, “I have received brief information about menstruation and hygiene practices. Now I will spread the health & hygiene message to all of my friends and relatives.”
Another girl name Priya, 12 years asked about menopause and why menstruation was necessary for every girl.
These are some of the many questions that were answered during the interactive workshop and Smiley Days will endeavour to address more such queries from girls and women who previously had misconceptions about menstruation and menstrual hygiene.
Thank you for your support and well wishes that helping to make this project success and impactful.
Do contribute to help us for the cause that can change the lives of many underprivileged girls and women.
Warm Regards,
Indian Dreams Foundation
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