Shattering Menstrual Shame in Nepal

Because Periods Don’t Stop for Pandemics, Days for Girls’ Shattering the Shame project is moving forward in Nepal. This is in large part thanks to your continuing financial support for women and girls in hard-hit rural communities.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Kathmandu office has received numerous calls for DfG PODs (Personal Objects of Dignity). Our Nepal Enterprises have been able to respond to this need, as well as continuing to create DfG Supreme Kits. Furthermore, our office staff has reached out to our Enterprise leaders to provide data collection and project management training, thus improving their entrepreneurial skills. In doing so, we are coaching future leaders in areas that desperately need menstruation advocacy. 

With recent world-wide travel restrictions, our “Boots on the Ground'' are needed now more than ever! Our capable Nepalese Enterprise leaders are continuing to provide DfG menstrual education and Kit distributions. Your funds have been used by our Kathmandu office to translate our Men Who Know program into Nepali and young Nepalese men are learning how to support the females in their lives and the healthy process of menstruation. Because of you, we are also able to raise awareness around the illegal and destructive practice of relegating women and girls to huts during menstruation, known as chauupadi. DfG remains vigilant in shifting cultural practices to be safe for all girls and women.

With all of the recent global chaos, we thank you for your financial support and commitment to the women and girls of Nepal. And know that now, more than ever, Days for Girls remains committed to our mission to improve the lives of Every Girl. Everywhere. Period.

Thanks to you, we are making progress in Nepal! Days for Girls’ recent collaboration with the Oda Foundation resulted in 17 new Training of Trainers graduates in the Mahawai and Suva Kalika rural municipalities. These new trainees (ages 19-24) participated in a week-long intensive theory of menstrual health education. Using Days for Girls flip charts, they learned how to address topics including:

• Average days of bleeding
• Puberty 
• Female and male reproductive systems
• Menstruation process
• Menstruation calendaring
• Importance of menstrual hygiene, including proper hand-washing
• Instructions on care and usage of DfG reusable pads
• Self-defense
• How to recognize and avoid human trafficking

Unfortunately, in Nepal, discussions on menstruation are often taboo. These new trainers learned to speak with confidence, boldness, and without shame or embarrassment. They are now prepared to teach girls the joy that comes with knowing that their bodies are healthy, normal, and strong. 

While working in the field, one of the new trainers was confronted by a local faith healer and accused of “spreading nonsense regarding menstruation.” The young trainer reported, “In the past, this would make me feel bad, but having gone through the training I now feel proud. Proud that people know I am spreading education and awareness on menstrual hygiene. I am proud of myself and see myself as a change maker."

Armed with these newly acquired skills, our amazing new DfG Training of Trainers graduates are conducting Ambassador of Women’s Health (AWH) training in their communities. Because of your donation, they are able to give out our beautiful DfG washable pads while using language that emphasizes the beauty of being female. 

While interacting with local girls, these AWH trainers are deconstructing the myth that menstruation is impure and emphasizing that chhaupadi (the dangerous tradition of relegating menstruating females to huts) is unnecessary and inappropriate. 

Thanks in large part to your generous contributions to this project, over a recent three month period of time, nearly 3,500 girls were armed with knowledge and tools to handle their menstruation with dignity. And we are confident this trend will continue to Shatter the Shame in rural Nepal. 

Namaste!