Shattering Menstrual Shame in Nepal

Like most of the world, Nepal has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. John’s Hopkins University reported that by the end of 2020, Nepal had over 260,000 positive cases and over 1,800 deaths from COVID-19. We are proud to share that Days for Girls remained vigilant in our efforts to end period poverty, thanks largely to your support for our Shattering the Shame program through GlobalGiving.

From December 2020 to January 2021, with your donations, our Days for Girls Nepal team provided Days for Girls Kits, menstrual health education, and facemasks to 2,509 women and girls in the Kalikot District. Our Nepal team also conducted Men Who Know workshops for 371 men and boys. At the beginning of the sessions, each participant was given a facemask and taught effective hand-washing techniques. Participants in both the Ambassador of Women’s Health and Men Who Know workshops then learned the mental and physical changes that occur during puberty, and the importance of healthy menstruation. The females were taught the menstrual cycle and proper feminine hygiene techniques, as well as home remedies for abdominal pain during menstruation. Using your donated funds, each female participant was given her own Days for Girls Kit and taught how to properly care for the reusable pads so that they will last approximately three years. The men and boys were taught why girls menstruate, basic male and female anatomy, and how to support females during menstruation. All participants were taught self defense and how to avoid becoming victims of human trafficking. 

Days for Girls continued our goal of ending the practice of chhaupadi. Chhaupadi is the Nepalese tradition of relegating women and girls to cowsheds or huts during menstruation. Samjhana Adhikari of the Kalikot District Women and Children Office estimates that 95% of women in the district have participated in chhaupadi. This dangerous tradition has resulted in deaths of women and girls from cold temperatures, suffocation from farm animals who provide warmth, wild animal attacks (including snake bites), and rape. Male and female participants in the Kalikot District workshops learned that menstruation is not a result of sinful acts, but rather a healthy bodily function. None of this important advocacy work would have been possible without your financial gift.

2020 was a hard year for all of us; but it was especially difficult for the world’s most vulnerable populations. But thanks to our amazing donors, all of this was made possible, even during a pandemic! And at Days for Girls, we remain committed to our mission of ending period poverty. Thank you for your support.